tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13942919331005451452024-03-18T23:07:07.062-07:00Conifers & CitrusThe conifer for the Portland Timbers and orange wedges for all: Soccer in these United StatesJeff Bullhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11384922554068429807noreply@blogger.comBlogger901125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1394291933100545145.post-38310263099634658722024-03-18T23:06:00.000-07:002024-03-18T23:06:30.991-07:00MLS Week 4: Brief Notes on Many Things & Trends A-Birthin'<b><u><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdzL-gV_eiQB4S1HxCzYZsM0au06Tolfcr2UGAqYUWUL5Vhfa_5xe256wxrvQaKJ_KGumkCpu9NnFHjlSWDesQX2m1p3W4hx6IwwMDkZp8j784jdgXhatsotM9xkKzPwG30dUDQXHozJsIGOsjnSgGAb8XCnWm-fSqQRFSRv4ObWM4kKpEa6q_6kLA22Mf/s480/flagellants-s.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="340" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdzL-gV_eiQB4S1HxCzYZsM0au06Tolfcr2UGAqYUWUL5Vhfa_5xe256wxrvQaKJ_KGumkCpu9NnFHjlSWDesQX2m1p3W4hx6IwwMDkZp8j784jdgXhatsotM9xkKzPwG30dUDQXHozJsIGOsjnSgGAb8XCnWm-fSqQRFSRv4ObWM4kKpEa6q_6kLA22Mf/w284-h400/flagellants-s.webp" width="284" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>No, really. I'm doing this for you.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Grand Narrative</u></b></div></u></b><div style="text-align: justify;">First, we are inching closer to the most wonderful time of the year – i.e., the tipping point in every season where pundits, be they professional or amateur, can start leaning more into top-line stats and the standings, and less on reviewing stupid amounts of video. Sometimes that’s all a body needs to know….we’ll see whether I embrace that come mid-season or if I keep it up with the masochism.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As for Major League Soccer’s Week 4, it served up some wild ones – e.g., Chicago’s late, late win over Montreal and the Galaxy’s last-gasp salvage operation against a…spirited St. Louis team…has anyone tested their Gatorade, because, my god. And yet both of those feel like happy little blips (because both games were fun!) against some early trends in the early season. To go in the order they played ‘em, in an ominous sign, Miami became the first team to fully solve DC’s hyperactive puzzle, Columbus keeps rollin’, rollin’, rollin’ and look at those strong early starts by Vancouver and Minnesota. Coming from the opposite side, Jesus Christ and hide the children, how are both Orlando and New England San-Jose-Earthquakes bad?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">With that, it's time to pick through some details, if briefly and with a distressing absence of embedded video, but I have something to say either about everything that happened or the teams involved. Before getting into it, a quick reminder on the symbols you’ll see after each result below (all of which include a link to The Mothership’s game summary for the relevant match):</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: bold;">*</b> more or less skipped it, coasting on the fumes of past impressions.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: bold;">(H)</b> – I watched the highlights and checked the box score to update the opinion.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: bold;">([Numbers])</b> – those represent the parts of the full game I watched, plus box scores.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">That’s it for the preamble(!). The formula really is tightening and, if all goes as planned, I’ll be down to watching all of two games each week, plus 45-60 minutes of just three others by MLS Week 10 or 12. With that, let’s dig into what I saw and the sweet nothings all that whispered into my ear.</div><span><a name='more'></a></span><br /><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkarNwii7yMZr1_BaBrAZCcRjn1scF6qReu94SFRuGBNJGz0-_-q51qgS8obR0vy2Wg6uVbmHmJi5BgHoMIxUIGdWxS2oawkEdRyjFYYBKhck3sxTWRUUBNjTXjh9IXKj98_4BU9aMJpAe6mG696_NdWN-rcEW2pdfFnZHxVyf6NUikBMGptNJJ8QpCKmM/s540/19983598._SX540_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="436" data-original-width="540" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkarNwii7yMZr1_BaBrAZCcRjn1scF6qReu94SFRuGBNJGz0-_-q51qgS8obR0vy2Wg6uVbmHmJi5BgHoMIxUIGdWxS2oawkEdRyjFYYBKhck3sxTWRUUBNjTXjh9IXKj98_4BU9aMJpAe6mG696_NdWN-rcEW2pdfFnZHxVyf6NUikBMGptNJJ8QpCKmM/s320/19983598._SX540_.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Best I could do for "wild bullshit."</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Chicago Fire <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/chivsmtl-03-16-2024/" target="_blank">4-3</a> Club du Foot Montreal</b> (1-15, 35-45+, 65-70, 80-90+)</div></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">The Game in One Sentence</u><u>:</u> The coolest thing about this game was seeing every Fire player sprint back to the center-stripe after the late equalizer, because they knew it wasn’t enough – which, to be fair, makes all kinds of sense given that Chicago played like absolute, incompetent shit for much of the game and had only a 3% chance of winning even then – but desire and some wild bullshit can make miracles, even ones that wipe out two bullshit penalty kicks.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">One Thing You Might Not Know</u>: Chicago has played one of the hardest schedules so far (@ PHI, v CIN, at CLB, v MTL), so maybe the once-slow start should surprise people less?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re Chicago</u>: This shout will feel more specific than general, but Fabian Herbers was the Fire’s spirit animal in this game – and they need that raw, “holy fuck, I play for my job every damn day” energy more than they need Xherdan Shaqiri’s exquisite technique right now.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re Montrea</u>l: On paper, this is a very good team – which I didn’t appreciate until I saw who they had for subs in this game…not that it mattered Saturday, but still.</div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>DC United <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/dcvsmia-03-16-2024/" target="_blank">1-3</a> Inter Miami CF</b> (H, with regrets)</div></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">The Highlights in One Sentence</u>: The little things, only compounded: both DC and Miami players found genuinely good chances, but Miami’s superior attacking chops meant their chances counted at something like a 3:1 ratio (see above…no, not really); Benteke didn’t bring his shooting head/feet, which didn’t help.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">One Thing You Might Not Know</u>: I’m guessing Luiz Suarez will get the headlines, but Leo Campana did every bit as much, if not more. Depth is good, particularly at forward.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re DC</u>: Still believe the approach will lift them over the playoff line, but Miami showed what it looks like when you crack their Plan A. More a reality than a warning sign at this point.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re Miami</u>: Just I started dreaming about them stumbling, they go and solve a problem (DC) that no one else had so far.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Seattle Sounders <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/seavscol-03-16-2024/" target="_blank">1-1</a> Colorado Rapids</b> *</div></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re Seattle</u>: Yeah, yeah, the injuries. To give in to my bias a little, it’s worth wondering whether the juggernaut may have slowed.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re Colorado</u>: They’ve been on the road three of four games. Not that their home form helped them last season, but there’s reason to expect them to improve.</div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Columbus Crew SC <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/clbvsrbny-03-16-2024/" target="_blank">3-0</a> Red Bull New York</b> (H, with more regrets)</div></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">The Highlights in One Sentence</u><u>:</u> A good team stuffed a decent team at home – which, here, I literally mean Red Bull got on the wrong end of a largely one-way game – but what makes it look most impressive is the fact New York’s press played no role <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/highlights-columbus-crew-vs-new-york-red-bulls-march-16-2024#highlights-columbus-crew-vs-new-york-red-bulls-march-16-2024" target="_blank">in the highlights</a>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">One Thing You Might Not Know</u>: Cucho Hernandez deserves the headlines he’ll get, but he couldn’t have torn up half as much scenery without Yaw Yeboah for a foil.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re Columbus</u>: The team to beat the team to beat (aka, Miami), and in every tourney, expect maybe the CONCACAF Champions’ Cup, because that shit is hard.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re Red Bulls</u>: All my regrets about not watching this game follow from not knowing the manner of Red Bull’s collapse. They get a pass, see notes on Columbus, but I’d still like to know.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>New York City FC <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/nycvstor-03-16-2024/" target="_blank">2-1</a> Toronto FC</b> (H)</div></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">The Highlights in One Sentence</u>: A genuinely impressive result for NYCFC and on a couple levels – e.g., going down a goal (very) early, particularly after falling apart v Portland just one week ago, they’re the first team to drop two goals on Toronto, and they survived a red card to Keaton Parks at the 68th minute, etc.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">One Thing You Might Not Know</u>: The quality of NYC’s chances, which the mercurial Santiago Rodriguez announced with <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/goal-s-rodriguez-vs-tor-24#goal-s-rodriguez-vs-tor-24" target="_blank">a peach of a free-kick</a>, bears noting.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re NYCFC</u>: It’s possible they’re turning it around…or it could just be what happens when they play at home (i.e., NYC has a recent history of sucking on the road).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re Toronto</u>: No need to write them off, by any means, and <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/goal-j-marshall-rutty-vs-nyc-7#goal-j-marshall-rutty-vs-nyc-7" target="_blank">the Goal Celebration of the Week</a> goes to Jahkeele Marshall-Ruddy.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Austin FC <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/atxvsphi-03-16-2024/" target="_blank">2-2</a> Philadelphia Union</b> *</div></b><i><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>[<u>NOTE</u>: I have to watch this whole damn game for a preview because Philly has the Timbers next, so I’m trying to save all the mystery I can, so’s I can keep things fresh as possible. Fascinating result, though.]</i></div></i><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re Austin</u>: Again, the starting line-up looks like a Colorado Rapids-level budget team, but they’ve also dropped seven points of nine at home.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re Philly, March 11, 2024, as amended</u>: The bones are good (right?), but that’s a lotta winless to start any season, even if CCL/CCC does things to a team, and to the Union more than most.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>FC Dallas <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/dalvsvan-03-16-2024/" target="_blank">1-3</a> Vancouver Whitecaps</b> (20-Picault’s goal; 55-70, just to see)</div></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">The Game in One Sentence</u>: Take a Dallas team that has no damn idea what it’s doing in the attack, throw it against and a Vancouver team that looked better than Dallas on both sides of the ball, and you get something like this – only with Vancouver effectively dismantling Dallas (in Dallas) over a 22 minute period; I wasted 15 minutes of my life on a stretch of the second half, and all I got was a good attack by Vancouver.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">One Thing You Might Not Know</u>: Check out the shape of <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/dalvsvan-03-16-2024/lineups" target="_blank">Vancouver's line-up</a>, because it looked like they <i>actually</i> ran with it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re Dallas</u>: Still underperforming and slipping into darkness as they go. The West may become a stumble-fest, but counting on it seems unwise.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re Vancouver</u>: Very good early returns, obviously, especially the two road wins against Western rivals (the ‘Caps mugged San Jose last week)…and look who’s second in the West.</div><br /><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAQpafOV31B4E_M4MxVC2h2figjjBZaSgYYTmowvOkTZfMLAtCthkpX1smTyAmgpsN0Tg_RdOwjPUkPxqhh0X-fDr5yedz98PwhTaLfmn_K6xhPjmhuiATucAwPKiQkL_Youw7cBy-DXkr-R2QouB7qPgbYwVgcC5GPrOk0WuKSEkzvcHQJqLFieCTZdYR/s1024/Picture1-1024x684.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="684" data-original-width="1024" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAQpafOV31B4E_M4MxVC2h2figjjBZaSgYYTmowvOkTZfMLAtCthkpX1smTyAmgpsN0Tg_RdOwjPUkPxqhh0X-fDr5yedz98PwhTaLfmn_K6xhPjmhuiATucAwPKiQkL_Youw7cBy-DXkr-R2QouB7qPgbYwVgcC5GPrOk0WuKSEkzvcHQJqLFieCTZdYR/s320/Picture1-1024x684.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A visual for my notes.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Houston Dynamo FC <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/houvspor-03-16-2024/" target="_blank">1-0</a> Portland Timbers</b> (I posted <a href="https://conifersandcitrus.blogspot.com/2024/03/houston-dynamo-fc-1-0-portland-timbers.html" target="_blank">extended notes</a> on this one on Saturday)</div></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">The Game in One Sentence</u>: Fuck. Ing. Grind, no quarter given, none received, etc., and Houston scored the winner when reasonable competing choices by Portland’s Juan David Mosquera and Maxime Crepeau combined to make the decisive mistake.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">One Thing You Might Not Know</u>: The Timbers had at least three <i>very</i> good chances, one before Houston’s winner and two after. So close to a different story.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re Houston, unamended from March 4, 2024</u>: Olsen and improved personnel have them playing good stuff, even without Hector Herrera and the (functional) No. 9 they crave; that’s usually enough to somewhere, if only so far.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re Portland</u>: Games like this will happen, even when Portland gets better, but they’ll also happen less often if/when they do. Still see the Timbers as playoff-competitive, if through Rose City colored lenses.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Sporting Kansas City <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/skcvssj-03-16-2024/" target="_blank">2-1</a> San Jose Earthquakes</b> (H)</div></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">The Highlights in One Sentence</u>: “From the days of the Clash and the Wiz,” was a delightful way to start the broadcast (this is Max Bretos’ one, actual skill), but, happy as SKC should be about the win (not to mention <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/goal-a-pulido-vs-sj-29#goal-a-pulido-vs-sj-29" target="_blank">this goal</a>), it should not make them feel secure, because San Jose and their 0-4-0 start for 2024 hangs an asterisk on their first win.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">One Thing You Might Not Know</u>: Seriously, SKC’s attacking stats <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/skcvssj-03-16-2024/stats" target="_blank">are <i>shocking</i></a>; but for some impressive goalkeeping by Tim “Late Elvis*” Melia, San Jose would have had their first points. (* Yes, I’m making a crack at the expense of Melia’s less slim waistline, but, like Elvis, who gives a shit if his later-career stuff kicks ass?)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re SKC, amended from the March 11 theory</u>: I don’t see how they improve without fresh players and a good team doesn’t struggle at home against this opponent.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re San Jose</u>: I can <i>[still]</i> see this team eating shit all season; pray for Jeremy Ebobisse, pray for Cristian Espinoza. <i>[Same note as the March 11 post, only with the bracketed word added.]</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Minnesota United FC <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/minvslafc-03-16-2024/" target="_blank">2-0</a> Los Angeles FC</b> (1-25; 75-literally 90)</div></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">The Game in One Sentence</u>: Sometimes you watch a game and you feel like nothing happened…and you're mostly right, but that the game still had definite themes and/or realities, i.e., that LAFC tried to bully Minnesota, it didn’t work, and now the Loons are officially tied with Columbus as the best/most hottest team in MLS right now, even if Columbus has a tiny edge on goal differential, and, no, I’m not kidding..</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">One Thing You Might Not Know</u>: It’s so obvious that they said it in the broadcast, but LAFC is scoreless and winless in three games – and they didn’t look much like changing that in this one.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re Minnesota</u>: An already confident team that’s just now fully coming online…maybe Adrian Heath <i>was</i> the problem?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re LAFC</u>: I feel like we’re getting to the point when it may make sense to start asking questions like…are you all right, LAFC?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Nashville SC <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/nshvsclt-03-16-2024/" target="_blank">2-1</a> Charlotte FC</b> (H)</div></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">The Highlights in One Sentence</u>: Even if they’re disappointed by the loss, Charlotte should be happy how close they played Nashville on the road, while Nashville should be delighted at seeing their DP, Sam Surridge, get started with scoring early – especially when <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/goal-s-surridge-vs-clt-32#goal-s-surridge-vs-clt-32" target="_blank">his goal looked like this</a>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">One Thing You Might Not Know</u>: Charlotte fired some quality freekicks, while Nashville got a nice boost from a good outing by Alex Muyl. That kind of wild-card shit always matters.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re Nashville</u>: I don’t know where they are for DPs, and all the other bullshit roster mechanisms MLS uses, but they’re looking like a bubble team unless they get reinforcements.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re Charlotte, unchanged from March 11</u>: They also seem fine and comfortable so far – particularly in a league where finishing 9th or higher counts as an accomplishment.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Los Angeles Galaxy <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/lavsstl-03-16-2024/" target="_blank">3-3</a> St. Louis CITY FC</b> (1-10; 20-30; 45-60th minute goal; 80-90+)</div></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">The Game in One Sentence</u>: It was a lot of LA alternately managing and solving St. Louis’ methed-up press – which, as the broadcast pointed out <i>ad nauseum</i>, does a better job of forcing turnovers than creating chances – and that narrowed the talent gap (think LA has both the edge and depth/options here) and turned this one into a slug-fest; if I had to tell Timbers fans to watch a game from Week 4, this is the one.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">One Thing You Might Not Know</u>: The number of saves – and the quality of at least two three four of them (the 2nd big save is bonkers; sadly, <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/highlights-la-galaxy-vs-st-louis-city-sc-march-16-2024#highlights-la-galaxy-vs-st-louis-city-sc-march-16-2024" target="_blank">you gotta sift</a> for it). LA struggled to break St. Louis’ press, but they shattered the right side over and over through Joseph Paintsil. Roman Burki bailed them out.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re the Galaxy</u>: This could be the most balanced Galaxy team in a decade; certainly more than the Zlatan-era.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re St. Louis</u>: With the speed and effectiveness with which they constrict space, I’ll be stunned if they miss the playoffs. Which I’ll hate because they play ugly and so, so much whining.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>New England Revolution <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/nevscin-03-17-2024/" target="_blank">1-2</a> FC Cincinnati</b> (H)</div></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">The Highlights in One Sentence</u>: Looks like one of those classic collapse games, where five crap minutes by one team (e.g., New England) throws a point or three to the other team; Cincy’s Roman Celentano kept <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/nevscin-03-17-2024/lineups" target="_blank">a heavily-rotated starting XI</a> in the game with six saves/long enough for Luciano Acosta to come on and do a nice berserker imitation.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">One Thing You Might Not Know</u>: I genuinely don’t know how this Revs team isn’t doing better, but I’d also love to see Caleb Porter take the reputational hit of failing in Season 1, and I can’t help how much that guy bugs me.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re New England</u>: They look snake-bit AF, but four straight losses can’t help but become the one immovable object of their 2024 season so far.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re Cincy</u>: I know Cincy well enough (but for how long?) to appreciate the meaning of how much they rotated the starting line-up, so I’m doubly impressed with this one.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Atlanta United FC <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/atlvsorl-03-17-2024/" target="_blank">2-0</a> Orlando City SC</b> (H)</div></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">The Highlights in One Sentence</u>: I’m guessing the highlights flatter Atlanta in every way but the quality of the chances they created; unless MLS/Apple TV/The Deep State have conspired to bury Orlando’s best moments, this game could have only ended one way – and Pedro Gallese (despite botching the play on Atlanta’s first goal) kept this from being a 3-0 loss (again, and damn the man, <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/highlights-atlanta-united-vs-orlando-city-march-17-2024#highlights-atlanta-united-vs-orlando-city-march-17-2024" target="_blank">you gotta sift for it</a>).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">One Thing You Might Not Know</u>: With a tip of the hat to Taylor Twellman, Orlando is bleeding goals early in 2024 (as is New England). They’re on 2.5 goals allowed per game.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re Atlanta</u>: On the one hand, I like the talent and believe them to be capable. On the other, guess which teams Atlanta played over the past two match days (yep! The Revs and Orlando).</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>Present Operational Theory re Orlando</u>: Not just clearly off what they were in 2023, they’ve become a team that builds others’ early reputations.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As Balzac said, there goes another novel. Wait...I just quote a Woody Allen movie. Ewww. Off to shower...</div>Jeff Bullhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11384922554068429807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1394291933100545145.post-25727513960646788782024-03-16T23:08:00.000-07:002024-03-17T08:44:17.081-07:00Houston Dynamo FC 1-0 Portland Timbers: A More Complete Incompleteness<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimNfCaZ4ztyB-v3YDayaY37X5mgHESrvx_CjORdVUhFID0WB64J9NvE9g3zOz_PwQq1BWFV_2wV-cz0D4EalcBHC0Rap13kwkEdBSq0Xadu6fGKdTq5ymMv2s-nftEKCMS4fL6hf2J4ir-O1u0k2mn9qhCSNJKm_eTB7GaxihPiifBUSw_uUB7mYf6cRhp/s1200/duckinthehouse.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimNfCaZ4ztyB-v3YDayaY37X5mgHESrvx_CjORdVUhFID0WB64J9NvE9g3zOz_PwQq1BWFV_2wV-cz0D4EalcBHC0Rap13kwkEdBSq0Xadu6fGKdTq5ymMv2s-nftEKCMS4fL6hf2J4ir-O1u0k2mn9qhCSNJKm_eTB7GaxihPiifBUSw_uUB7mYf6cRhp/w400-h225/duckinthehouse.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>One way to "break" one's duck...</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">In my mind, the biggest question about last night’s game was which team would score first. The Portland Timbers came (god)damn close in the fourth minute when my personal Man of the Match, Santiago Moreno, found Cristhian Paredes loose on the right side of the six (<a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/highlights-houston-dynamo-fc-vs-portland-timbers-march-16-2024#highlights-houston-dynamo-fc-vs-portland-timbers-march-16-2024" target="_blank">gotta be in here somewhere</a>), but Houston Dynamo FC gored the proverbial duck first, thereby taking a <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/houvspor-03-16-2024/" target="_blank">1-0 lead they never surrendered</a>. Timbers lose, Timbers lose, etc.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">By the way, does anyone know where the phrase “break your duck” comes from? Yeah, I could google it, but what’s the fun in that? This stays poultry-heavy for a few, btw. Moving on…</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Lacking as it was in some familiar areas - e.g., attacking verve and total concentration in defense - I don’t have a lot of gripes about Portland’s overall performance yesterday and, as a handful of people reminded me on the Timbers subreddit, they don’t often leave the “great” state of Texas with points. A point or three would have been nice, sure, but all things considered, I find it harder to argue that Portland deserved some slice of the points last night than to argue that Houston didn’t deserve all of them.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Given the way Houston has played under Ben Olsen, this one was always going to be grind. The Dynamo play a patient, methodical game and, to use a phrase I may have forgotten to get to in the preview, they can hold onto the ball until they behoove themselves (it can take a while sometimes) to swing into the attack. No less important, Houston tends to have its ducks in a row behind the ball as they push forward – and, outside some frantic moments over the opening 15 minutes, that held last night. Feel free to chicken-and-egg this until you, a regular human, unlocks the ability to lay eggs, but Houston <i>reliably</i> had at least one player in the right place at all times and all night. Whether that followed from the Timbers’ lack of execution or from the Dynamo just having really goddamn good defenders – e.g., Micael exceeded my already high expectations and, bluntly, Phil Neville should have Juan David Mosquera watch video of how Griffin Dorsey plays the same position until further notice – I can’t say and it just doesn’t matter at this point.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The reason it doesn’t matter? The Timbers made the game’s <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/goal-i-aliyu-vs-por-43#goal-i-aliyu-vs-por-43" target="_blank">one, fatal mistake</a> and that’s all this game had in it.</div><span><a name='more'></a></span><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM4JP0MFfb0J4BhT6EMhzTtTWZ3fQxgvQJI7mJHzxtBQC1dS3Pcfxq9UI4w-cxFPGZ40utAIahdMcim09KWqbxORsnHSQZBdOznRPPhgvDB7mMOslJVD83fr5KMV5_Dm3k9rq21ja8a2YPAxMNvJ5jftPzzQWAox_aNlFzuTbEgqmBaWZpB22fotbpgrzT/s853/x480.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="853" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM4JP0MFfb0J4BhT6EMhzTtTWZ3fQxgvQJI7mJHzxtBQC1dS3Pcfxq9UI4w-cxFPGZ40utAIahdMcim09KWqbxORsnHSQZBdOznRPPhgvDB7mMOslJVD83fr5KMV5_Dm3k9rq21ja8a2YPAxMNvJ5jftPzzQWAox_aNlFzuTbEgqmBaWZpB22fotbpgrzT/w400-h225/x480.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Get in the swing, Juan David.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">Mosquera catches all kinds of hell for crap defending in the online conversations I follow and, to a fair extent, I get that. And yet, I can't bring myself to give him the wedgie/the swirlie/the childhood torture of your darkest imaginings for the botched communication with Maxime Crepeau that led to the game’s only goal. First, hats off to Adelberto “Coco” Carrasquilla for delivering that back-breaker of a sliced ball, because it created chaos o’ plenty. Now, if Crepeau called him off - and he might have too, given how aggressively Crepeau came out to claim the ball (and Crepeau <i>definitely</i> had the better line on it) - then, yes, Mosquera screwed up. And yet, isn't the fact he's so often out of position one the fanbase's bigger beefs with Mosquera, and therefore wasn't it good to see him in a decent defensive position to where he could make...a reasonable play on the ball? All that’s academic now, in the past, and a discussion on how to do better for the next team meeting.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Before picking through some talking points, I have one more (rather long, as it happens) point to make about the game and the teams that played it. Whether through injury (Houston) or reinforcements that haven’t yet arrived (Portland) or some combination of the two, Houston and Portland met as incomplete teams. For all that, I believe that both teams are playing the best version of “their game” with the personnel on hand. The argument for Houston deserving the points follows from a case that they’re farther along in that project than the Timbers are. On the one hand, playing <i>completely</i> without a No. 9 – i.e., Amine Bassi has the physical presence of a 4 ½ tops – limited them (quite a bit) and they have <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/houvspor-03-16-2024/stats" target="_blank">the piddling attacking stats</a> to show for it. On the other hand, the Dynamo more or less excelled at their fundamental game-plan of holding and using the ball. Content to putz it around the back, comfortable with playing the ball into Artur or Jan Gregus (for me, Houston’s low-key MotM) only to have them play it straight back, just fine with building up the flanks, but also capable of controlled ball progression through Bassi and Sebastian Kowalczyk coming back to find the ball: Houston takes a calm, collective approach to the game regardless of who’s in the line-up. With the exception of, say, Dorsey and Hector Herrera when he’s in, I doubt neutrals see many best XI players in the Dynamo roster, and yet they somehow still set the tempo in a lot of games. That’s not the same as winning, obviously, as their current place in the standings shows, but they are a good team and that’s down to the way they play.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Timbers, meanwhile, can feel like a team waiting on missing pieces. Again, I don’t think they played a bad game yesterday. Some of that followed from Houston playing headless (e.g., without a No. 9) because that shaved real weight off of the attacking pressure, but Portland handled their biggest threat (shots from the top of the 18) pretty well and, hard as it is to believe, they ended the game with more shots and a higher xG than Houston. It takes a little stretch of the memory to remember them, but Evander skied a great opportunity at the 49th, then teed up a solid shot for Moreno just five minutes later, and Antony wildly shanked another half-chance in stoppage time. Again, Houston defended <i>really</i> well, but the Timbers still had those chances. The point of all that: Portland didn’t need a new flashy DP last night, so much as they needed to execute in the moments they had. Zero points notwithstanding, this wasn’t such a bad outing.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And now…</div><div> <br /><b><u><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguboezOkzJoBFIWZL_4APHX6KjHXxW7GJACNBJuE54fR0VkK3DS9WQ7LuQF9HO6HfeGx4nHSRkqt-9_9cAZFvzfYhfuIGC7ugWZzk5a2mx1hieqrMYBVl8qs-WsQRFyh2q1NdL82a9ulIdp_-bLzpUIozMOth8oDKcMOy3vMLlzlZftqlCD3E-as4pLhBN/s1200/REVIEW-Beast-Mode-1-1200x675.webp" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguboezOkzJoBFIWZL_4APHX6KjHXxW7GJACNBJuE54fR0VkK3DS9WQ7LuQF9HO6HfeGx4nHSRkqt-9_9cAZFvzfYhfuIGC7ugWZzk5a2mx1hieqrMYBVl8qs-WsQRFyh2q1NdL82a9ulIdp_-bLzpUIozMOth8oDKcMOy3vMLlzlZftqlCD3E-as4pLhBN/w400-h225/REVIEW-Beast-Mode-1-1200x675.webp" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">B<i>east Mode, apparently...</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Some (Though Not All) Talking Points</u></b></div></u></b><div style="text-align: justify;">1) <b>Is There a Next Level for Evander?</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This is less about what I thought about his game – though, for what it’s worth, I found it lacking – than to pose the question, does Evander have an “anger mode”? While he clearly has a playmaker’s ego, does he have the raw desire to put the team on his back and carry it, or is he more about yanking the odd bit of magic out of his keister (e.g., last week’s winner)? Or, to hit it from another angle, can Evander make the players around him better, or is he mostly a soloist? Watching him play for fouls through much of the second half - and he got a couple (or a few?) - but each of those strikes me as a soloist’s approach and that's...fine. I guess. At any rate, just thinking about that now. Oh, and is anyone else worried about him getting Dis-Co’ed (sp?) for that late swipe at Dorsey? (I do.)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">2) <b>Antony, the Good and the Bad</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It was good to see Antony and/or the Timbers collective reprieve the move that discombobulated the Colorado Rapids’ Keegan Rosenberry bloody – i.e., stretching the weak side fullback up the channel – which put Antony in a great position to do damage. His decision-making failed him pretty much every time, though, and that boiled down to Portland’s best attacking moves dying a premature death. In the context of the praise for Houston’s defense up above, that’s not so surprising - i.e., it's easier to play the killer ball when you have options - but making the most of great positions is literally Antony’s job, good defense or no. He's young and I'm more impressed with him this year than last, but...still.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">2a) <b>Speaking of Defense</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Antony had some excellent and savvy defensive moments tonight. So did Moreno. Having wingers (or “wingers”) that put in that defensive work is a win, full-stop.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">3) <b><i>Nope</i>, Not Doing It</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I will not be drawn into a Dario Zuparic v Zac McGraw debate, not based on just one game, not based on anything, really. Outside of Zac’s massive aerial presence I’m not even sure I have a preference between the two of them.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">At the end of it all, I read this game as the more complete incomplete team getting the better of the less complete one. Poorly as I phrased it, I do believe that having a new DP – specifically, Jonathan “Cabecita” Rodriguez – will change the way Portland plays; hell, just Claudio Bravo starting over Eric Miller will change the way the Timbers play…and that’s for good or ill, in Bravo’s case. Assuming Rodriguez does sign (I mean…<a href="https://www.kgw.com/article/sports/soccer/timbers/jonathan-cebecita-rodrguez-signing-portland-timbers-analysis/283-8502e64f-208f-4239-b45a-b20e1f9202d4" target="_blank">it’s done, right?</a>), and assuming the Timbers keep more or less healthy, I want to think they have a higher ceiling than the best present form of Houston. We’ll see how that plays out, but that’s what I want to think. Till the next one….</div></div>Jeff Bullhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11384922554068429807noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1394291933100545145.post-35771146207061409932024-03-14T23:22:00.000-07:002024-03-15T07:15:48.146-07:00Houston Dynamo FC Scouting Report: Leading with the Chin, Boldly<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRIjCOw7ITXPYtx9MhTPJVVC_akj4w-aT3zbw3ZQuNXbyXnFbbfEWDH9rSgNh5GCgG498VMvfum75xD8xHJooPJhW8Rtw7jp71DUZ4MEY6TKnNkXMRanpSYIvkeHVvPFsQRtf0cDi8pINvaIrC53oy7s5c8jb02EKHePDkzNxVSUTFoCfjrFCwisOdJBL9/s1920/tlb_sp_hero_landscape.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRIjCOw7ITXPYtx9MhTPJVVC_akj4w-aT3zbw3ZQuNXbyXnFbbfEWDH9rSgNh5GCgG498VMvfum75xD8xHJooPJhW8Rtw7jp71DUZ4MEY6TKnNkXMRanpSYIvkeHVvPFsQRtf0cDi8pINvaIrC53oy7s5c8jb02EKHePDkzNxVSUTFoCfjrFCwisOdJBL9/w400-h225/tlb_sp_hero_landscape.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>That's...a choice.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">This Saturday, the Portland Timbers take their strong start to the 2024 regular season the home of 2023’s “who did what now?” surprise team, Houston Dynamo FC. I did some scouting, this is my report.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Some Basics</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">Despite being just two games in their Major League Soccer regular season, CONCACAF Champions’ Le…Cup play has Houston six “real” games deep into the young 2024 season. They have won just one, versus St. Louis CITY FC at home, but they’re stumbling more than they should for a team that has hosted four at home. In their defense, they’ve played good capable, teams in them all, St. Louis and Columbus Crew SC twice, as well as a lively Red Bull New York team once (as for the 6th team…wait for the reveal). Another big picture notable: Houston has scored in every game but one – their CCC Home loss to Columbus last week.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Head coach Ben Olsen has tried a few formations, but it looks like he leans toward a somewhat conservative 4-3-3 (<a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/concacaf-champions-league/2024/matches/clbvshou-03-12-2024/lineups" target="_blank">sample</a>); fwiw, I’m not sure what he’ll do against the Timbers, but I’m interested. I hung “conservative” on his line-ups because he builds (most of) his middle threes around Jan Gregus, Artur, and either Coco Carrasqulla or Amine Bassi as the “creative” third. The forward line has (somewhat) consistently involved Ibrahim Aliyu and Sebastian Kowalcyzk, but has had dudes rotate in and out, mostly by absence or circumstance. As for the defense, the primary constants are Steve Clark in goal and young Brazilian Micael (Santos de Silva) in front of him with either Ethan Bartlow or Erik Sviatchenko for a partner. The left fullback and/or left-sided defender has rotated its cast as much as The Love Boat (yay old people!) and, yes, absolutely, there's Griffin Dorsey on the other side...also, hold that thought...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Olsen has this bunch playing a methodical, arguably labored, possession game that sees them play north of 450 passes in every game. I see that The Mothership’s <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/mlssoccer-com-injury-report" target="_blank">“Availability Report”</a> shows their absences as “To be announced” (because it’s fucking useless and/or may require you to create an account, not unlike the still-absent Form Guide (fuckers!), <i>I'm not paranoid!</i>), but I <i>believe</i> that Hector Herrera remains injured and it looks like they loaned out one-time big-time signing to Sebastian Ferrera, but he never got off paper when it came to entering Houston’s plans for league domination. Oh, and they are <i>wafer</i>-thin at forward, so Herrera starting looks like the only wild card.</div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>The Review</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">On the grounds I wanted to see them playing at home, but not against a pressing team like St. Louis or Red Bull, I went all the way back to Houston’s <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/houvsskc-02-24-2024/" target="_blank">regular season opener</a> at home against Sporting Kansas City to take a peek at how they play. Why? Dunno. Seemed like the most analogous team to the Timbers all things considered. Going the other way, Olsen trotted out <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/houvsskc-02-24-2024/lineups" target="_blank">a 3-5-2 in that one</a>. Most of the same players lined up and in similar positions – e.g., Kowalcyzk and Aliyu up top, with Dorsey and Brad Smith as wingbacks – but he did have the now-departed (by season-ending injury) Tate Schmitt at the left side of the back.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Finally, and full disclosure, I watched a 10-15 minute spell in the middle of the first half as preparation for sitting through the half where everything happened, the second.</div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9FQrztsLd-lqSqjCeAi-FdOzZhkMf-40oU6cM4iZhZb_N2-gq4wb4ydeL-nMPqgfIJkA8k6N9swgr32Oh835Zo9TIQ3S8K01rdRVJisoGqA0Hsqu461qv0OoKY66sarj-docF5H1JuPYrsae3twnf1GLaXz8ZXSkbRXr1nNQIeCK28v5cd4yu1E8lGnJb/s1023/MV5BMTc4OTUwODAxMV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNzg0ODY2NA@@._V1_.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="687" data-original-width="1023" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9FQrztsLd-lqSqjCeAi-FdOzZhkMf-40oU6cM4iZhZb_N2-gq4wb4ydeL-nMPqgfIJkA8k6N9swgr32Oh835Zo9TIQ3S8K01rdRVJisoGqA0Hsqu461qv0OoKY66sarj-docF5H1JuPYrsae3twnf1GLaXz8ZXSkbRXr1nNQIeCK28v5cd4yu1E8lGnJb/w320-h215/MV5BMTc4OTUwODAxMV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNzg0ODY2NA@@._V1_.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Full swing at my head? Why not?</i></td></tr></tbody></table><u><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Houston v SKC, in General (1-1 draw, btw)</u></b></div></u></b><div style="text-align: justify;">The assistant ref pulled a hammy and got subbed out at the 82nd, so new one for me. While I'm not on that’s what passed for excitement in a game that played out about how you’d expect, some familiar adjectives apply, e.g., cagey. While far from two teams swinging like they do in the Rocky movies with chances galore, Houston posted <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/houvsskc-02-24-2024/stats" target="_blank">respectable</a> top-line attacking numbers with 6 shots on goal from 12 total; and yet let the record show that I caught only three and two of ‘em would have required the sudden expiration of Tim Melia to go in. Neither defense covered themselves in glory on the goals they allowed – a minimum of three defenders failed to step to SKC’s Erik Thommy…ever <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/goal-e-thommy-vs-hou-61#goal-e-thommy-vs-hou-61" target="_blank">on their goal</a>, while SKC’s shape fell apart like toilet paper in a blender <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/goal-g-segal-vs-skc-69#goal-g-segal-vs-skc-69" target="_blank">on Houston’s goal</a> – but, since this post deals mainly with Houston, I doubt they’ll give Portland a similar gift on Saturday. Finally, SKC didn’t just rattle Houston through the opening minutes of the second half, they actually drove down their alleged chances of winning per those stupid win percentage charts that AppleTV chucks out in every broadcast. That said, and for the details above and below, I do think Portland will see a similar game when they play the Dynamo Saturday – i.e., a composed, low-risk affair (Houston covers ground and recovers well defensively), but still a game that they can genuinely affect by changing what they do, maybe switching around this player (or this winger) or that. Moving on to…</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Talking Points/Loose Theories</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">1) <b>[Houston’s No. 9]</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The use of brackets implies a missing man, but Houston started Aliyu at something like a No. 9 before bringing on former NYCFC youngster Gabriel Segal at the 67th minute (for the shockingly ineffectual former Sounder Brad Smith). They used Aliyu to push against the backline, but his runs and positioning didn’t cause much for stress. Segal, meanwhile, looks like he understands the role better and has a target-player profile – think a cut-rate (or just young) Brian White (from Vancouver) – and he did the score Houston’s goal with a heads-up run and they have been starting him more and more lately. For all that, Houston’s missing a starting-caliber No. 9 as badly as they’re missing Herrera. And that leaves the burden of carrying the attack on…</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">2) <b>Kowalczyk v. Bassi</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Because The Mothership can’t be bothered to update the damn site (seriously, both Segal and Gregus are still in their old unis on the line-up pages), I can’t account for Bassi’s general absence and I don’t care enough to dig for it, <i>but</i> it looks like he and Kowalczyk play a similar game – small wonder, too, because they’re both li’l whippets of players. Lots of work up (mostly) the right channel, coming back to receive the ball and turning to keep it moving, fairly active, and so on. Bottom line, both players look more likely to combine, fire from range, or find a back-post tap-in than to pressure one of Portland’s central defenders directly. Keep an eye on them, basically, and you should be good. I don’t know whether either player or both will star, but those are the tendencies I saw. Also, no, I didn’t forget…</div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-MNTMzRNoz1w18TS_-AWLWRtFhqn_TGSG0Rdvas5UvQdiddxdwQF7iPAlR2HBQXhGoDNeNtvHKKR0rKV5bx0wF7fYum76iNeCw4yxa-JfbFaf7e0XVXCacnIcCDy-chez6vIp4jAOt_lRGoorhHDlQLmMPloFI-kSnp-nABRaEb02awaFSUjzGjlS1vxL/s620/brian-white.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="349" data-original-width="620" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-MNTMzRNoz1w18TS_-AWLWRtFhqn_TGSG0Rdvas5UvQdiddxdwQF7iPAlR2HBQXhGoDNeNtvHKKR0rKV5bx0wF7fYum76iNeCw4yxa-JfbFaf7e0XVXCacnIcCDy-chez6vIp4jAOt_lRGoorhHDlQLmMPloFI-kSnp-nABRaEb02awaFSUjzGjlS1vxL/w320-h180/brian-white.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>What's missing, Part II.</i></td></tr></tbody></table>3) <b>Coco Carrasquilla </b><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I’ve never seen him live up to his reputation/pedigree/(alleged) price-tag and, nice secondary assist on Houston’s goal and all, but I still haven’t seen it. Whether that’s a case of potential springing eternal without issue or just a case of the yips I can’t say, but the broadcast booth noted that even Olsen thinks he needs to get some numbers on the resume. Basically, he could do it anytime and keep going, he could do it just once against the Timbers this weekend. Think of it as Russian Roulette, only with just one bullet in a…let’s go with thirty chamber barrel.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">4) <b>Dorsey[strikeout]/nah, Micael</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Griffin Dorsey was Houston’s most consistent attacking threat down the stretch in 2023 and during their playoff run. He was emphatically not that player against SKC, so I’m turning the last talking point over to Houston’s young, second-season (third, technically) defender Micael. He’s solid, smart, aggressive, and he feels brave enough on the ball, apparently, to carry it across a couple lines and finish it off with a forward pass. Just something to watch for, <i>maybe</i> exploit, but Micael looks like the real deal, and at just 23.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">5) <b>The Biggest Bottomline About Houston</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">While they <i>can</i> be disrupted – and can even make <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/goal-l-morgan-vs-hou-59#goal-l-morgan-vs-hou-59" target="_blank">the odd, wild fuck-up</a> (fwiw, Artur played some medium-risk slop against SKC) – the Dynamo hold the ball better than your av-e-rage team. They feel comfortable keeping the ball, and under decent control, until they find a way to get the ball into the opposition third, if with less risk than more often as not, or they give it away in an pretty damn innocuous place. Hate Olsen’s tactics all you want, that’s my best stab at the formula.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>What the Timbers Do About It</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">Between their current, shitty record and a home game, I expect Houston to defend as high as they did against SKC – at least at times. Houston defends the same way regardless – i.e., they put more value on keeping shape that getting after the ball (squeezed in a 6th talking point, hey-<i>oh</i>!) – and I expect the same Saturday and therefore, limited chances for the Timbers. If Portland scores first and early, maybe that changes, but I still don’t see Houston gambling hard enough to hand Portland high-percentage counters. As such, the Timbers should either run with the ever and unchangeable Plan A – suck Houston in, then hit them in transition – or steal a goal out of possession without assuming much in the way of risk. Think stretch the field through either Santiago Moreno, Antony or Juan David Mosquera, and then following up as needed. Make Houston beat you, basically, with an eye on taking the point before you worry about all three.</div><br />We’ll see how it plays out and wrap it up on…I’m thinking Sunday.</div>Jeff Bullhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11384922554068429807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1394291933100545145.post-9502219295140899772024-03-11T23:15:00.000-07:002024-03-11T23:15:46.806-07:00MLS Week 3: Less Brief Notes on Many Topics<b><u><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg4_7AFQAJ9AwFU0De7CmOeQPgTPa5bLA-7BGQkulGoY7rW2dFkiGqZbH7DNyJ2JHaa_LsnUhKWyVzgqWFl3lfdDSGitfw2G3xBhOtJkEamIp2A7XG4Hp7mENUoocUkEFy6B1NOpQh1JhZO9khH75S9qKq_tY4Va-nEdvStxszhnrzmrCEdVDN1KhCJG_h/s1028/5032-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1028" data-original-width="804" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg4_7AFQAJ9AwFU0De7CmOeQPgTPa5bLA-7BGQkulGoY7rW2dFkiGqZbH7DNyJ2JHaa_LsnUhKWyVzgqWFl3lfdDSGitfw2G3xBhOtJkEamIp2A7XG4Hp7mENUoocUkEFy6B1NOpQh1JhZO9khH75S9qKq_tY4Va-nEdvStxszhnrzmrCEdVDN1KhCJG_h/s320/5032-1.jpg" width="250" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>What's new is old, mfs.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Grand Narrative</u></b></div></u></b><div style="text-align: justify;">Major League Soccer Week 3 served up some actual upsets – e.g., Minnesota United FC shivving Orlando City SC in Florida, the Colorado Rapids stunning Rocky Mountain rivals in their fascist-adjacent stadium (i.e., America First is a bit freighted in 2024) – one head-fake upset - e.g., Club du Foot Montreal tripping MLS’s very favorite team on its way to the coronation the league wants like cocaine, fine cigars and cured meats – and at least one blowout – e.g., Atlanta United FC’s stroll over the New England Revolution. It’s all more or less normal from there, if with some noteworthy wrinkles, but there’s still 31 largely meaningless games to go. Plenty of time for rewrites in the script. For most teams, anyway.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In other news, The Mothership’s stubborn refusal to fill in the Form Guide forced me to create a sad old guy version of one (Viva Excel!), but I’m glad I did because, <i>oh</i>, the tiny trends that would have slipped down the memory-hole without it. Don’t get me wrong: a lot of teams are having something close to the normal ups-‘n’-downs – e.g., let’s go with Charlotte FC and RSL or, hell, even Colorado – but then you’ve got New England’s flop-sweat start to 2024, or Sporting Kansas City or Nashville SC’s dead-cat bounce string of draws. Again, these are <i>tiny</i> trends – and I pick at some of them below – but, with some exceptions (hello, San Jose Earthquakes!), not many of those present as permanent conditions thus far. Moving on…</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I’m introducing a new segment this week. It’s nothing more or less than stuff that pops in my head as it drifts off during extended highlight sessions (see below for clarification). I haven’t come up wht of a name for it yet, so let’s go with…</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Shouts from the Peanut Gallery</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">1) MLS should be raiding the bench of Europe’s good-to-great clubs looking for high-end depth pieces – the kinds of players the bigger teams sign as either development or insurance. That doesn’t mean they should stop looking for the latest hot, young thing from Central/South America…hold on. I think MLS is already doing this, only before they get to Europe. Still, I’m guessing there’s talent a-wasting on the benches of Europe’s more ambitious clubs, if not the bigger ones.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">1a) Is it just me or has MLS essentially and/or completely given up on Central America? If so, is that wise? Half of me thinks probably, but the other half feels like they may be missing out.</div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">2) I don’t know the name of the guy who paired with Maurice Edu for the RSL v Colorado broadcast, but 1) he really seemed to enjoy needling him, and 2) he poked him into a good conversation about why Zac Steffen – or any semi-ambitious American player – would return to MLS. The short answer is, for reliable starting minutes. I guess it’s just kind of nice that MLS has enough credibility to where that makes sense now because I remember much, much different days.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">3) To flag a couple things not noted above: 1) I’m still convinced the East will be a murder buffet in 2024; I count at least five teams with good bones, plus four or five that look good, and 2) should have mentioned this above, but, while there are a brimming handful of teams without losses, there are no perfect teams in MLS as of Week 3.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">4) For funsies, I have money on Miami dropping out against Nashville in the CONCACAF Champions’ Cup.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">From here, it’s just a bunch of notes on results and my quick read on how those translate to The Big Picture. I believe the framing speaks for itself, but I want to provide a key for how much I invested in each game. Here’s that:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: bold;">*</b> more or less skipped it, coasting on the fumes of past impressions.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: bold;">(H)</b> – I watched the highlights and checked the box score to update the opinion.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: bold;">([Numbers])</b> – those represent the parts of the full game I watched on top of a dive into the box score.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Right, time to review this motherfucker, one game at a time and with a link to The Mothership’s game summary in each final score.</div><br /><b><u><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN8QoY7xbfwfsbs3IiL3Gibm2bhssJChm9EWP-jvpHIwCpRfiFsy_Gt-RH264MdIr0wC75olbhPo-N1nfWriaoj5ODzUmnJUswcD3L5zWd6mN3ocRJxszSxaC2mDU_3qTHjKad53pVos2UdbDdOYtmtk2xFqlGMOeLfQQEGKMl74D_M9M7KNfUps_tM8k7/s800/elizabeth_butler_scotland_for_ever_1881.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="417" data-original-width="800" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN8QoY7xbfwfsbs3IiL3Gibm2bhssJChm9EWP-jvpHIwCpRfiFsy_Gt-RH264MdIr0wC75olbhPo-N1nfWriaoj5ODzUmnJUswcD3L5zWd6mN3ocRJxszSxaC2mDU_3qTHjKad53pVos2UdbDdOYtmtk2xFqlGMOeLfQQEGKMl74D_M9M7KNfUps_tM8k7/w400-h209/elizabeth_butler_scotland_for_ever_1881.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Suckas.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>New York City FC <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/nycvspor-03-09-2024/" target="_blank">1-2 </a>Portland Timbers</u> </b>(I h<b>ave <a href="https://conifersandcitrus.blogspot.com/2024/03/new-york-city-fc-1-2-portland-timbers.html" target="_blank">extended notes on this guy</a>)</b></div></u></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">The Game in One Sentence</u>: Think a Charge of the Light Brigade by NYCFC; they had the Timbers dead to rights over the opening 35 minutes and then something, perhaps Nick Cushing, happened.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">One Thing You Might Not Know</u>: There was a shouting match between Thiago Martins (NYC’s captain, btw) and one of their star/key players, Santiago Rodriguez. By all signs, this does not look like a happy team.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re NYCFC</u>: They can’t even be good when they’re good. Given what I think of the East...yeah, I'd be sweatin' the season something moist.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re Portland</u>: At risk of indulging my own personal fan-brain…Portland might actually have a season in 2024.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Toronto FC <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/torvsclt-03-09-2024/" target="_blank">1-0</a> Charlotte FC</u> </b>(H)</div></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">The Highlights in One Sentence</u>: <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/torvsclt-03-09-2024/stats" target="_blank">The xG</a> speaks one simple truth: Lorenzo Insigne is a very talented player when he wants to be; I’ve heard rumors of buy-in by him, maybe even Federico Bernardeschi, but now I have seen some evidence of it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">One Thing You Might Not Know</u>: Enzo Copetti also looked dialed in. So long as both teams have good foundations behind their key players, they’re at least mid-table good.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re Toronto</u>: Upgraded to worth keeping an eye on at this point.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re Charlotte</u>: They also seem fine and comfortable so far – particularly in a league where finishing 9th or higher counts as an accomplishment.</div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; font-weight: bold; text-decoration-line: underline;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNkEks5vyovnJY3Kz_jIYZ3f5dPwETX6YKvbK6pjkghe0oKNgdXWuc3suV4lJUF_bAD_5Reqwu_HHRlb9fCJZwM4SsxNfwsE-edl5-7CllQcI_yiAssghp8lfACbpTUo-SdqD0-Z51bHtNEljYZQZmjVaNoAa3LovYNHDM_MErxZCuadrf_Y5tx-xMDB62/s640/web1_grave2_7387919.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="433" data-original-width="640" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNkEks5vyovnJY3Kz_jIYZ3f5dPwETX6YKvbK6pjkghe0oKNgdXWuc3suV4lJUF_bAD_5Reqwu_HHRlb9fCJZwM4SsxNfwsE-edl5-7CllQcI_yiAssghp8lfACbpTUo-SdqD0-Z51bHtNEljYZQZmjVaNoAa3LovYNHDM_MErxZCuadrf_Y5tx-xMDB62/s320/web1_grave2_7387919.webp" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Slovakia has a grave-digging contest.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration-line: underline;"><u>Atlanta United FC <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/atlvsne-03-09-2024/" target="_blank">4-1</a> New England Revolution</u></b> (37-45+, 45-85)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">The Game in One Sentence</u>: I’m going to let the clean filth of <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/goal-g-giakoumakis-vs-ne-60#goal-g-giakoumakis-vs-ne-60" target="_blank">Atlanta’s third goal</a> speak for the game itself, because they were clean, smart and tight all over the field, and the absolutely deserved to win the game, Giorgios Giakoumakis played out of his skin, etc., but New England also did a fair imitation of clean, smart and tight.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">One Thing You Might Not Know</u>: I feel like New England has looked better than their start in a wholly irrational way. And "Chancaly" is the best name in MLS, hands down, even if you takes hearing it for the first time. If that was a mispronunciation, I don't want to know about it. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re Atlanta</u>: They may or may not be in the conversation about genuinely competitive teams, but, based on what I’m seeing in the present, healthy attack, it’s not gonna take much more than a whole and healthy defense to keep them in or around it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re New England</u>: New England looked pretty goddamn sharp for a team playing its sixth game in eighteen days, even after the hole got too deep. The 0-3-0 start and dead-bottom of the East says something, but so does that.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Columbus Crew SC <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/clbvschi-03-09-2024/" target="_blank">2-1</a> Chicago Fire FC</u></b> (H)</div></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">The Highlights in One Sentence</u>: Columbus walked three steps into the grave before putting away the game – i.e., Chicago made them work for it, which means more for Chicago* than it does for Columbus.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">One Thing You Might Not Know</u>: MLS Comms decided to go with <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/highlights-columbus-crew-vs-chicago-fire-fc-march-9-2024#highlights-columbus-crew-vs-chicago-fire-fc-march-9-2024" target="_blank">a Cucho Hernandez highlight reel</a> instead of showing more of Columbus’ <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/clbvschi-03-09-2024/stats" target="_blank">eleven shots on goal</a>; the latter seems more relevant than maximizing sales of Columbus’ third kits with Cucho’s name on them, and also probably good for the franchise.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re Columbus</u>: Having game-winning talent matters a little more when it comes from off-marquee players (e.g., Jason Russell-Rowe, who, for the record, has looked wholly-competent every time I’ve watched him).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re Chicago</u>: * Signs of improvement aside, they’re still the Fire until further notice.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Red Bull New York <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/rbnyvsdal-03-09-2024/" target="_blank">2-1</a> FC Dallas</u></b> (H)</div></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">The Highlights in One Sentence</u>: Mildly unnoteworthy because it delivered the expected result, but noteworthy because the Red Bulls look closer to the energy-drink/<i>actual</i> talent formula they gave them their best seasons; Dallas was on the other side of that, and yet still capable.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">One Thing You Might Not Know</u>: Relevant to Dallas, I’m not sure Ema Twumasi is one of the guys you want in a back three. Rough outing for him.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re Red Bulls</u>: Already covered above, but also the same thing.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re Dallas</u>: Bluntly, they’re underperforming for me regardless of whether they’re short a starter or two. Three points from three games with two at home doesn’t exactly speak to greatness.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Orlando City SC <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/orlvsmin-03-09-2024/" target="_blank">2-3</a> Minnesota United FC</u></b> (1-15, 25-GOAL, 78-90+)</div></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>The Game in One Sentence</u>: If you presented me with <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/orlvsmin-03-09-2024/lineups" target="_blank">the starting line-ups</a>, <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/orlvsmin-03-09-2024/stats" target="_blank">the stats</a>, and the final score, my money would have gone on Orlando, but: 1) I would have second-guessed that bet had I watched the game live, and 2) that feels like a good way to understand what Minnesota’s doing – also, 4.1 xG for Orlando, are you serious? (the punctuation makes that one sentence.)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">One Thing You Might Not Know</u>: Don’t know how often they do it, but I saw Orlando set up an attacking pattern that was, like, five dudes pressed against Minnesota’s backline and, the xG tells me it produced chances, but it also looked weird.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re Orlando</u>: Duncan McGuire has all the marks of a complete forward – I mean, <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/goal-d-mcguire-vs-min-83#goal-d-mcguire-vs-min-83" target="_blank">this is a <i>cracker</i></a> – so how is the U.S. Men’s National Team doing at that position? asking because I genuinely don’t know.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re Minnesota</u>: Is it possible that every player is auditioning for the new head coach? They’re playing just about starving every night.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Philadelphia Union v Seattle Sounders</u></b> (Postponed)</div></b><u><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>NOTES</u>: Don't care, really</div></u><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>Present Operational Theory re Philly</u>: Pending. Things might feel different if they beat Seattle…whenever the game takes place. The bones are good, but they’ve started the season slow, no question.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re Seattle</u>: Yeah, yeah, the injuries. To give in to my bias a little, it’s worth wondering whether the juggernaut may have slowed.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Austin FC <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/atxvsstl-03-09-2024/" target="_blank">2-2</a> St. Louis CITY FC</u></b> (H)</div></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">The Highlights in One Sentence</u>: Know who scored Austin’s goals? Their center backs, Matt Hedges and Julio Cascante – and that’s 2/3 of Austin’s overall goal production for 2024, btw, and all that meant St. Louis’ Cello Pompeu (who I suggested people should watch) just had to do enough to earn St. Louis the draw.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">One Thing You Might Not Know</u>: You probably already know this, but Brad Stuver totally made the Save of 2024 so far with some ninja-shit (sorry, <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/highlights-austin-fc-vs-st-louis-city-sc-march-9-2024#highlights-austin-fc-vs-st-louis-city-sc-march-9-2024" target="_blank">you gotta dig</a>, because google's broken) – and this is how the rest of his team repays him?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re Austin</u>: Look at <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/atxvsstl-03-09-2024/lineups" target="_blank">this starting line-up</a> and tell me this isn’t a Colorado Rapids-level budget team. I’ll wait.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re St. Louis</u>: Rolling along pretty nicely. St. Louis seems to know what they’re doing.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Real Salt Lake <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/rslvscol-03-09-2024/" target="_blank">1-2</a> Colorado Rapids</u></b> (10-25; 30-45+, 60-75)</div></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">The Game in One Sentence</u>: A little subtle in that both teams looked competent on both sides of the ball, but <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/highlights-real-salt-lake-vs-colorado-rapids-march-9-2024#highlights-real-salt-lake-vs-colorado-rapids-march-9-2024" target="_blank">the highlights</a> reinforced a fuzzy impression that Colorado was the better team…which is exactly why I put a little more time into this one – and that’s more about RSL than Colorado, but, also good for them!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">One Thing You Might Not Know</u>: Matt Crooks is fucking enormous. Seriously, looks like a basketball player out there. Or a Great Dane.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re RSL</u>: Some players on this team rank among my favorites at their position in all of MLS (yes, <i>all</i> of MLS), e.g., Pablo Ruiz, Matias Vera, and Chicho Arango, and the version of that lives in my head feels a little disappointed at RSL’s start. They’re still fine, I think, just not as battle-ready as I thought they’d be.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re Colorado</u>: Good for them! Good for Cole Bassett! (This was his 100th game.)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Los Angeles FC <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/lafcvsskc-03-09-2024/" target="_blank">0-0</a> Sporting Kansas City</u></b> *</div></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re LAFC</u>: They surprised me last season by going all the way to MLS Cup – and yet, if you asked me who looked better, I wouldn’t have an answer. Judgment suspended and all, but I can literally count four teams (because I just did; see above) who have posted stronger starts than LAFC and who also strike me as less…at seas. Related, Colorado is above them in the standings, they’re not one of the four teams I flagged, and if LAFC’s at sea, the Rapids are in the middle of the damn ocean.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re SKC</u>: On one level, they’re probably fine. On another, I don’t see where the room for improvement comes in.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>San Jose Earthquakes <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/sjvsvan-03-09-2024/" target="_blank">0-2</a> Vancouver Whitecaps</u></b> (H)</div></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">The Highlights in One Sentence</u>: Based on what I saw, Vancouver transitioned the ‘Quakes to bejesus and finished them off with a pair of genuinely beautiful finishes (<a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/goal-a-schopf-vs-sj-74#goal-a-schopf-vs-sj-74" target="_blank">Cut 1</a>, <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/goal-a-ahmed-vs-sj-86#goal-a-ahmed-vs-sj-86" target="_blank">Cut 2</a>), but, despite their impoverished xG, both Espinoza and Amahl Pellegrino fired decent shots for San Jose.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">One Thing You Might Not Know</u>: Ryan Gauld played a couple through-balls weighted to the milligram; let the ‘Caps transition at your peril.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re San Jose</u>: I can see this team eating shit all season; pray for Jeremy Ebobisse, pray for Cristian Espinoza…</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re Vancouver</u>: I don’t have a read here, partially because I tend to ignore Vancouver (who, like San Jose, have been historically mediocre, so…), but also because they’ve played just two games against two, for lack of a better word, meh teams (it was just Charlotte and a bye week before this).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>FC Cincinnati <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/cinvsdc-03-10-2024/" target="_blank">0-0</a> DC United</u></b> *</div></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">NOTE</u>: The result didn’t surprise me, but I don’t think I’d learn enough unless I watched the full game and, for a goal-less draw involving a pressing team? Nah. Feel like I know this story.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re Cincy</u>: They’re fine. Busy, but fine. Losing (what is it?) five starters feels like a kick in the head.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re DC</u>: Starting to believe they’re on to something. The East looks more like a meat-grinder with each passing week.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Nashville SC <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/nshvsla-03-10-2024/" target="_blank">2-2</a> Los Angeles Galaxy</u></b> (H)</div></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">The Highlights in One Sentence</u>: Tough to beat the middle-aged woman loudly booing the Galaxy player as he took the corner (<a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/nshvsla-03-10-2024/video" target="_blank">start watching about 1:45</a>; she’s awesome), but this one looked like a barnburner – and LA really ran up the shots. Also, this (<a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/orlando-city-s-flaw-new-york-city-s-trend-more-from-matchday-4" target="_blank">from this</a>): <i>“Nashville were not as airtight as they usually are with a lead, which has to concern manager Gary Smith.”</i> (this was after he described how good LA looks in the attack; how one doesn't determine the other, I can't say).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">One Thing You Might Not Know</u>: Sometimes, a performance – in this case, Dru Yearwood – makes you look at a signing that made you shrug in a different light; and Nashville needed it, with Hany Mukhtar only half-present.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re Nashville</u>: Just read that Nashville rotated damn-near the whole starting line-up to stay fresh for the CONCACAF Champions’ Cup, so clock this one with a salt lick (aka, a big ol’ grain of salt).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re the Galaxy</u>: Despite the note above, I’m sticking with last week’s read – i.e., the Galaxy look very credibly poised to take one of the playoff spots in the Western Conference that they missed last season.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Inter Miami CF <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/miavsmtl-03-10-2024/" target="_blank">2-3</a> Club du Foot Montreal</u></b> (H)</div></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">The Highlights in One Sentence</u>: Damn the hype machine for implying only Lionel Messi sat this one out, because Miami rotated heavily enough, but that feels less like the story than the 10 minutes of back-and-forth chaos that started around the 70th minute; suffice to say, goals were scored and a game lost in that time.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">One Thing You Might Not Know</u>: Montreal’s Matias Coccaro utterly failed to punish a pair of howling mistakes by, first, Pedro Gallese, then…Tomas Aviles(?) when he twice went one-v-one against an open net and scrambling defenders. On the one hand, he scored a goal later. On the other, word association.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re Miami</u>: Little confession here: I typed out a spin a combination of what I believed going in and what I read about somewhere about Miami needing to sort out rotation to relieve their fixture congestion. Without pretending to predict the future, this <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/miavsmtl-03-10-2024/lineups" target="_blank">was not a bad line-up</a>. I’d take Leo Campana tomorrow if the Timbers could get him.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re Montreal</u>: As well as I know a fair number of these players, I don’t know some key ones – e.g., Matias Coccaro and Bryce Duke – under a coach I don’t rate as wholly incompetent (that could be an allusion to Hernan Losada, who’s to say?). As such, I’m on “they’ve had a good start till further notice.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Well, that did go on. If you made it through, I hope you enjoyed it and Gesundheit for taking the time.</div></div>Jeff Bullhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11384922554068429807noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1394291933100545145.post-10221117490721838862024-03-09T15:05:00.000-08:002024-03-10T20:16:23.073-07:00New York City FC 1-2 Portland Timbers: A Long, Lucky Breather<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFr9DtTw7pSWN7DWy12coQIsxu6pDueuF_S0nTnO4X8ke4_T_Ro20aBB45bCeXbk5HeMHNF5pR-NluQPC_wXp18izY8YyUG0O2qJDG83J017ePi9eRxyfLYttKLXL4lS4D7vky8ZLpwlA45U2tM0CgwBtZ6doTZSBYWNDwC_ovqyaZYDjBVGppWCEA1iio/s800/savage.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFr9DtTw7pSWN7DWy12coQIsxu6pDueuF_S0nTnO4X8ke4_T_Ro20aBB45bCeXbk5HeMHNF5pR-NluQPC_wXp18izY8YyUG0O2qJDG83J017ePi9eRxyfLYttKLXL4lS4D7vky8ZLpwlA45U2tM0CgwBtZ6doTZSBYWNDwC_ovqyaZYDjBVGppWCEA1iio/s320/savage.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>No, really. We got this coach...</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">If there is a bigger cliché in soccer than the Tale of Two Halves, I don’t know what it is. New York City FC freshened it up a little, in that it was mostly them to which the cliché applied. It was as if Nick Cushing asked his players at halftime whether they were tired and, upon agreeing they all were, they torched a game-plan that had run over the Portland Timbers over the opening 30 minutes. Portland took the space NYC left open for them to (very) slowly get back in the game (I have the Timbers first shot on goal at the 73rd through Nathan Fogaca) and yet, with time on the edge of running out, a heretofore indifferent Evander floated <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/nycvspor-03-09-2024/" target="_blank">a late, <i>glorious</i> winner</a> over NYC ‘keeper Matt Freese. With that, Portland picked up <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/nycvspor-03-09-2024/" target="_blank">a 2-1 road win</a> that <i>no one</i> could have seen coming even by the halftime whistle.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Which was weird, right? I try to avoid counterfactuals – because, lo, the game played out the way it did in all known dimensions – but some part of me has to wonder about all the different ways that game could have ended. Especially given that it started with New York City so deep down Portland’s throat that I’m surprised that didn’t run clear out their ass all the way to New Jersey.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Words to describe how scattered and dizzy Portland started don’t come easy. The only part of any Timber to touch the ball over the opening 10 minutes was Dairon Asprilla’s forehead and even that happened only once or twice (related, please relegate that tactical choice to the rubbish heap, on the grounds it does not work). When NYCFC scored <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/goal-s-rodriguez-vs-por-10#goal-s-rodriguez-vs-por-10" target="_blank">their inevitable break-through goal</a> off a thrice-recycled corner at the 10th minute (think of all the planet we could save with such a program), things looked bad. That outlook downgraded to dire over the ensuing 25 minutes and, here, even the most stubborn Timbers fan should acknowledge that New York should have gone two goals up at a minimum and going up three was <i>deeply</i> in the conversation. The exhibits on offer:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Exhibit A</u>: the (sixth or seventh) run around Portland’s right that had Mounsef Bakrar running free at an actually prone Maxime Crepeau in Portland’s goal; and</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Exhibit B</u>: the slip/sideways pass by Crepeau directly to an NYCFC player who had nothing a recovering Zac McGraw between him and an open goal.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">New York had more chances besides (<a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/highlights-new-york-city-fc-vs-portland-timbers-march-9-2024#highlights-new-york-city-fc-vs-portland-timbers-march-9-2024" target="_blank">the highlights</a> have most of 'em, just not Exhibit B) – in all honesty, they could have been up 4-0 with true finishing – and then, to paraphrase <i>Star Wars</i>, the guns, they stopped.</div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">The question that hung over halftime was whether the Timbers had <i>actually</i> got back into the game versus whether NYCFC had opted to sit back for a breather after spending the opening 30 running their legs off. The way New York started the second half genuinely seems to have answered that question: the hosts did indeed take a breather, just one that never stopped. After an opening 30-35 minutes that saw a Timbers team literally incapable of finding the next pass if it didn’t go sideways or backwards, Portland players stepped into newly-appeared openings to receive forward passes, finally able to turn to find the next one.</div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbM3tHE4RC_Nzkp2LXEMcCcRSaAlWD0dFQnmd7zUx0E1mlNvVkRHL6028mOL5eVml-VcvyMSyWXziNEE-IfO-yNpT21Jyi4U_DUK_oen3xRyHGaw3WNb2mDNFx6UmvWqFbEsgVaOsqrdTHQXgzWlVDZyeu8ge32IA7X0ICCKFfi1i0iAP7Gv-f1YDW0dff/s1080/BB-3-12.webp" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbM3tHE4RC_Nzkp2LXEMcCcRSaAlWD0dFQnmd7zUx0E1mlNvVkRHL6028mOL5eVml-VcvyMSyWXziNEE-IfO-yNpT21Jyi4U_DUK_oen3xRyHGaw3WNb2mDNFx6UmvWqFbEsgVaOsqrdTHQXgzWlVDZyeu8ge32IA7X0ICCKFfi1i0iAP7Gv-f1YDW0dff/s320/BB-3-12.webp" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Googled "splitting a six pack beer." So happy...</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">Here, I have to believe NYC’s head coach, Nick Cushing, made the utterly perverse decision to come out conservative to start the second half – or at least that strikes me as a likelier scenario than New York deciding to celebrate a good half by splitting a six-pack between every two field players in the starting XI. Maybe he expected the Timbers to come out roaring and thought riding out the storm made sense, but, as a gambling man, I had literally everything down on <i>New York</i> running straight at the Timbers to start the second half. Maybe Cushing answers that in his post-game presser, maybe he doesn’t. For what it’s worth, I don’t know how that guy still has a job…</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">To their credit, the Timbers took real advantage of the space that New York’s (presumably? maybe?) tired legs opened up. Better, the team as a whole loosened up once passes started connecting and, somewhere around the 65th minute, you started to see things like Antony clipping a heel-pass to an overlapping Juan David Mosquera, thereby sending NYC’s defense in a two-alarm retreat toward their own goal. Something else they did – and this was something I flagged in my <a href="https://conifersandcitrus.blogspot.com/2024/03/new-york-city-fc-remember-when-new-york.html" target="_blank">(very, <i>very</i> loosely accurate) preview</a> – was start to hit long diagonals to the weak side, something they need to do given the way NYCFC defends - i.e., by choking off every available short pass. It took quite a while to come good and – a tip of the hat to whoever posts a flees on reddit – <i>“well maybe we flipped the script and we’ll do better after the 80th minute”</i> turned out to be the most prescient thought I read all day.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It took all the way to the (checks The Mothership’s match summary) the 85th minute for Portland's one, true break-through happen. All it took was Mosquera beating his defender with <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/goal-antony-vs-nyc-85#goal-antony-vs-nyc-85" target="_blank">a “there’s-no-place-like-home” click of his heels</a>, which got him around and free to find a completely unmarked Antony at NYC’s penalty spot. Antony slammed his shot into the roof (which beat an earlier, dumber effort when he tried to clip the Freese to his weak side). Giving up that goal seemed to wake up New York a little, but all they did in the end was set the stage for Evander’s late, blessed miracle.</div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9l_rntZi8bUwkUgKS300RbOqtEuzZ_LNrh9yXH7svgUYNbbncckpmC9BbpNuLTpxj81P1Llll2exesBfUpHg3jguhQRwQZ7C_tB_NDslkjes54OPVQfCHGaK1n8vQlBV-VzfuARegKnV_FPzTSoV0TFbdpSAcwkbck4bZ_g2lHp0N6EZq2GjVUW37c30/s900/9-psychiatrist-and-patient-mauro-fermarielloscience-photo-library.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9l_rntZi8bUwkUgKS300RbOqtEuzZ_LNrh9yXH7svgUYNbbncckpmC9BbpNuLTpxj81P1Llll2exesBfUpHg3jguhQRwQZ7C_tB_NDslkjes54OPVQfCHGaK1n8vQlBV-VzfuARegKnV_FPzTSoV0TFbdpSAcwkbck4bZ_g2lHp0N6EZq2GjVUW37c30/w400-h266/9-psychiatrist-and-patient-mauro-fermarielloscience-photo-library.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Are they the best? The worst? Do you know, doc?</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">For what it’s worth, and unlike seasons past, I’m interacting on reddit during the games and, my gods, the in-game threads are <i>an experience</i>. It’s just real-time raging id in there. When I checked in at half time, it was all doubting the Colorado result and projecting that into a failed season as a whole. When I returned to the same thread to find flees quote above, all doubt was erased. It’s fun in its way and it probably comes closer to the spectator sports experience than anything else one can find online. I bring that up as a frame for the talking points below, which I’m going to limit to…let’s go with five.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>1) <u>The Timbers Still Need to Show They Can Play Through Pressure</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">Which they did not do today. For as long as New York pressed, the Timbers could barely get the ball into midfield. Hope-beyond-hope long balls to Asprilla became the solution and went about as well as expected. Things improved later when Evander, in particular, started dropping back to help fetch the ball out of the back – but, again, how much of that followed from NYC’s long breather? The real answer is, we will never know. We will just know what it looks like when the Timbers figure out how to play through pressure.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>2) <u>We Need to Talk About (or Plan Around) Juan David</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">Now, admittedly, some of this could follow from the left being New York’s stronger side, but a fucking freeway ran through the right side of Portland’s defense for the entirety of the opening 30-35 minutes. McGraw repeatedly had to wander wide to corral a loose NYC attacker and, golly, that did not go well. He got turned, beat and out-ran almost every time and it took Crepeau and a couple offside flags to rescue the situation. What I’m getting at: this is not sustainable. A part of me is not bothered by this because…I’m not 100% sure that Mosquera will ever play as a true fullback. The other, much more concerned part of me understands that the Timbers need to figure out some way to defend that space besides sending McGraw out to manage it because he’s not so good at it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>3) <u>One More on the Defense, Related to the Above</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">When Kamal Miller arrived, I took it as an obvious upgrade – not least because I’ve seen him play quite a bit over seasons past and he always looked pretty solid defensively and with a decent upside when it comes to playing the ball forward. One thing I saw today that has me questioning that – and I saw this <i>at least</i> three times – the man does not do urgent recovery runs. When McGraw gets beat in the situation(s) described above, I want to see Miller <i>sprint</i> toward his own goal. Instead, I saw him trot as if there was nothing to do but watch and hope that Crepeau would make the save. To be clear, these were not hopeless situations and, with one exception, these happened early in the game when he should have had the legs and motivation.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>4) <u>My Man of the Match</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">Antony. The goal was good and all, but I wrote the note “Antony improved as an outlet” well before he scored it. People crapped on his first half - and rightly so, because he looked lost both off the ball and on it – but, once the game settled down, Antony became the best player at both dropping into pockets to keep the ball moving and making leading runs to stretch the field. Just to note it, it’s entirely possible having him come inside became one of the adjustments Phil Neville made after the half.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>5) <u>Until the New DP Forward Comes</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">I want the Timbers to start Nathan Fogaca, at least until Felipe Mora comes back. This is less because I believe he’ll light up the scoreboard (he won’t), than because I believe he understands the position better than Asprilla does. That’s not a knock on Dairon by any means. Just like every Timber on the field, he improved once the space opened up and the balls that reached him weren’t built around more hope than planning and execution. After watching the first three games, I just get the sense that Nathan will have a smarter sense for the kinds of runs and passing that will help the Timbers keep the ball high when they’re struggling to play out the back.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In closing, I’m happy to take the pleasant surprise. At this point, how well the Timbers are playing <i>right now</i> matters less than the haul of points they’ve collected so far. Still, I have concerns, which I’ve noted, so there’s nothing left to do than see where things go from here. If nothing else, I was happy to see that the Timbers can play well when the opposition lets them. Till the next one…</div> Jeff Bullhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11384922554068429807noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1394291933100545145.post-31721329633136944452024-03-07T21:35:00.000-08:002024-03-07T21:35:42.896-08:00New York City FC: Remember When New York Was Cool?<i><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEsDKcTmrT28jA9_peYQOejcru1IsADeI-JQFd6WER3BY62JziyZ-DUfx5fc3mdDjWmVwjLcMKOgdY8HLhADplkl5wjfpzrEj-X2EFVuIvfCmXC7oWW_HtVerbPCW1qxBifv0UwMsOaazbXun1hEPVG3USZYeTJ4Zm4gLZyXf0XkfvlQewwOlkQcDoZeNy/s768/2f738cf58f39e10d0bd8e016c2e688e4551202ef_2000x2000.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEsDKcTmrT28jA9_peYQOejcru1IsADeI-JQFd6WER3BY62JziyZ-DUfx5fc3mdDjWmVwjLcMKOgdY8HLhADplkl5wjfpzrEj-X2EFVuIvfCmXC7oWW_HtVerbPCW1qxBifv0UwMsOaazbXun1hEPVG3USZYeTJ4Zm4gLZyXf0XkfvlQewwOlkQcDoZeNy/w266-h400/2f738cf58f39e10d0bd8e016c2e688e4551202ef_2000x2000.webp" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>NOTE: Freaky AI art, not a stake-out</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>“On paper, New York City FC's attack should be way better than this. Mounsef Bakrar and Jovan Mijatović at striker. Julián Fernández and Agustín Ojeda as wingers (Talles Magno is out hurt). Santiago Rodríguez and Hannes Wolf as chance creators. Long-term, I'll hedge on that group clicking.”</i></div></i><div style="text-align: justify;">- Jonathan Sigal, <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/29-takeaways-one-thought-on-every-team-after-matchday-3" target="_blank">29 Takeaways: One Thought on Every Team After Match Day 3</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After sitting through New York City FC’s 0-2 Week 2 road loss at St. Louis CITY FC, I can confirm. As a side note, I don’t know how he gets to Match Day 3 when every team in Major League Soccer save two (Inter Miami CF and Real Salt Lake) have played just two games. But I digress…</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">With the MLS season in its late-preschool years (did the math; turns out if you take the average U.S. life expectancy of 77.28 years and divide it by 34 games, each game equates to roughly 2.3 human years), NYCFC doesn’t have much for a track record for 2024. I can, however, provide the following facts: they currently <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/standings/2023/conference#season=2024&live=true" target="_blank">sit at the bottom</a> of the Eastern Conference with an 0-2-0 record and a -3 goal differential, with zero goals scored. Both losses came on the road – the first against Charlotte FC, the second at St. Louis – and NYC is hardly piling up chances, posting 19 shots between the two games, with just four on goal, and a flaccid xG of 0.6 in Game 1 and 0.7 in Game 2. Now, one could put that down to a slow start, opening with two games on the road, the yips, a gypsy curse, a bad, as-yet-undisclosed Tarot reading – wrap your imagination in a freak flag and let ‘em fly – <i>but</i>, those issues with scoring carried over from a 2023 season that saw NYC get one thin whisker over 1.0 goals per game for the season (the actual number: 1.03 goals/game). In other words, this is a thing.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">That thing really stunk up that loss at St. Louis, too. I spent the game waiting for NYC to do anything worth reporting, but like 83% of police stakeouts (this stat is not real), I wound up watching 90+ minutes of a whole lot of nothing from them – at least on the attacking side. St. Louis, on the other hand, found multiple looks on goal – and don’t let that 3 shots on goal fool you, because, on top of scoring the two goals, both Cello Pompeu (who’s looks worth the look) and Samuel Adeniran (ditto) knocked shots from about 20 yards out off the same post…which makes one wonder who’ll step up for the Portland Timbers.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I’ll get to that, but, with an eye to keeping a leash on the chatter, I’m condensing my scouting notes on NYCFC to five, quick-hit talking points. If I was better, younger and more confident, I’d post video, but I don’t have the foggiest as to how to do that. So enjoy….<i>words!</i></div><i><span><a name='more'></a></span></i><br /><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM7BVN8qTh0Gh8dWEJp51UalByphyd1U481Ylyi6heVUB4lCbQnvXcPWDCgSrQ4-LY_ppVHRDWV7BPfTw5nxD-pjNxVDya-L1gp5IKcsdNC4Ay98RwOsYCaitNdWLhHPXMAoItlwtHF6iTkvByPQZn0HbQQMPzb-pqWKzVxDsBHLPAMJtbJpm65WKQCOCv/s1024/64518709_f9ac9cb2e1_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM7BVN8qTh0Gh8dWEJp51UalByphyd1U481Ylyi6heVUB4lCbQnvXcPWDCgSrQ4-LY_ppVHRDWV7BPfTw5nxD-pjNxVDya-L1gp5IKcsdNC4Ay98RwOsYCaitNdWLhHPXMAoItlwtHF6iTkvByPQZn0HbQQMPzb-pqWKzVxDsBHLPAMJtbJpm65WKQCOCv/s320/64518709_f9ac9cb2e1_b.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The desk was weirder, but not far off.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>1) <u>Regarding the Offense, or Lack Thereof</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">To close out the quote up top, if I tried to describe what NYC does on the ball, I suspect it would sound like trying to describe a concept for a painting or even the dream I had last night (wild, btw; I’ve been naked in my dreams a lot lately; I got nothin’). If I had to condense that into a phrase, I’d go with “nothing coherent.” That said, they did get in these fast, close, one-touch attacking patterns two or three times and they carved up St. Louis pretty smartly in those moments. Impressive as those rare moments were, they ended with a very direct give-away every time – and I mean <i>straight</i> to a defender’s foot – so there’s that. That can’t go on forever, of course, but it has been going on a while.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>2) <u>They Like Holding the Ball</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">Despite being on the road, NYC out-possessed both Charlotte and St. Louis – the former <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/cltvsnyc-02-24-2024/stats" target="_blank">by quite a bit</a>. As noted above, they didn’t get much out of all that. This, combined with Talking Point 3, feels like an opportunity for a transition-reliant team like the Timbers.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>3) <u>They Defend(ed) Weird</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">(I didn’t watch any of the Charlotte loss, hence the parenthetical.) Two things stood out in the way NYC defended at St. Louis: 1) they played a high, yet passive line of confrontation, by which I mean they often defended from the top of St. Louis’ defensive, only without actively pressing and/or hunting the ball, and 2) they defended <i>really</i> narrow, sometimes on the flanks, sometimes up the middle, but they compacted the bejesus out of the field in defense. If I had to guess at the goal, it's to choke off every conceivable short pass, but if they leave acres of space on the weak side, I mean... The caveat here: because I don’t know St. Louis well enough, it could have been St. Louis that bunched their players and NYC just adapted to that. Going the other way, that makes no goddamn sense. This also feels exploitable, see below.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>4) <u>Any Stars Shining in Their Local Firmament?</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">Nah. In fact, there’s a <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/NYCFC/comments/1b9ajez/erm_whos_our_best_players_at_this_point/" target="_blank">somewhat bleak thread</a> on the NYCFC subreddit that asks this specific question (fwiw, Hannes Wolf may be the player to watch). In fairness to them – and this could change…gods know how much of the above – of the players listed above, NYC did not start Fernandez, Ojeda or Mijatovic - never mind (the long, lately-struggling Talles Magno). That said, Fernandez came on at the 67th, Ojeda at the 74th, and Mijatovic at the 80th and none of that did anything to dispel the fog of futility this team appears to have operated in since all of 2023. To clear, that might change because…</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>5) <u>This Will Be Their First Home Game</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">MLS Week 2 put a dent or five (it was literally five) in one of the steadiest of standard assumptions about MLS – i.e., that home teams win more often than not – but Portland will be NYC’s first visitors for the 2024 season and…dammit, NYCFC had a pretty solid home record even in a bad 2023, <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/standings/2023/conference#season=2023&live=true" target="_blank">at 8-3-6</a>. Very much related, they were a shit road team last season, posting a dire 1-8-8. That seems relevant to the above.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">That’s all I have on New York City FC, aka, Portland’s one-MLS Cup nemesis, a fail-son stripped of his allowance in team form, etc. I’m going to close this out on…</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>What Portland Can/Should Do About All the Above</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">To start with a confession, I am bad at staying current. Being on reddit has helped a little, but the only new piece of information I have wouldn’t be new to…anyone who’s on reddit. Anyhoo (a word that has been spoiled for me forever by one cutting scene from <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt19356262/" target="_blank"><i>Drive-Away Dolls</i></a>, which was okay!), one report noted that Evander was present and practicing as of Wednesday. Given how active he was in preseason, Evander shouldn’t be too much off the current version of match-fit – and yet the question remains, should Phil Neville start him if he’s fully available? My only answer to that is, I wish I had a firm one. As for some quick nuts-‘n’-bolts…</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">If trends from the St. Louis game hold – and I hope some do - the Timbers should have the luxury of staying compact and defending that wet slaps that seem like the present limit for NYC’s attacks. Moreover, that high, passive defensive line should either spread them vertically or open up space behind for the Timbers to play into. Throw in the (admittedly small sample) tendency to defend narrow, and the Timbers would be wise to keep either Antony (or Dairon Asprilla) or Juan David Mosquera (and, with him, why not? 65% of reddit thinks the man defends fer shit) in space on the weak side for free-‘n’-easy ball progression up the relevant flank.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">All in all, I consider this game a good point for one point and a solid, low-odds wager for all three of them. New York City FC does not look like a good team – not yet, anyway. Given the rest of the East and, to float an opinion, Nick Cushing as head coach, I get the impression they have a big ol’ piece of work cut out for 2024.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We’ll see how it goes, early Saturday, in my best jam-jams. Until after…</div>Jeff Bullhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11384922554068429807noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1394291933100545145.post-30572710118272872362024-03-04T23:05:00.000-08:002024-03-04T23:12:42.046-08:00MLS Week 2 Review: Brief Notes on Many Topics<b><u><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm9gL3Ma77Kfn2H4rbb3XLzVCkrC2Agw6VjM1jku-IvZ8Y6iC91pJOwWY58-EAHlUipRgi4dPSgKBk9vB5vhwEWSlXkhPsjBDl0NKyT1CJlxA4QJaRz0kpD8hda9cHNAjvmrf3Vp8xK9X4vV_GZOkzM_06UIUIpg7iWIrntWl274ChWzfWpxwcsdeHDHr4/s767/a54a3592-8ffc-4e7d-a6c1-3ebe590491ab.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="639" data-original-width="767" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm9gL3Ma77Kfn2H4rbb3XLzVCkrC2Agw6VjM1jku-IvZ8Y6iC91pJOwWY58-EAHlUipRgi4dPSgKBk9vB5vhwEWSlXkhPsjBDl0NKyT1CJlxA4QJaRz0kpD8hda9cHNAjvmrf3Vp8xK9X4vV_GZOkzM_06UIUIpg7iWIrntWl274ChWzfWpxwcsdeHDHr4/s320/a54a3592-8ffc-4e7d-a6c1-3ebe590491ab.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Fill up on these faster.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>The Broad Strokes</u></b></div></u></b><div style="text-align: justify;">MLS Week 2 served up a healthy heaping of surprises – mostly in the form of eye-catching road wins, but I bet the current Los Angeles FC roster will talk about that snow game for half as long as their fans do (i.e., a damned long time). Somewhat related, I pissed away an hour watching <i>MLS Wrap-Up</i> – so, obviously, don’t recommend. If you like that show, no judgment, gods bless and carry on. I just fill up on hot takes faster than most and I hit my limit before they got halfway through the obligatory-till-His-retirement opening segment on Messiami.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Miami deserved more of the praise than I’d like to admit, but I also don’t know what the fuck Orlando was doing out there besides wasting everyone’s time….wait…fuck me. They made me do it too. I started with fucking Miami. Got played like conservatives play the New York Times…</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Result(s) of the Week</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">I’m going with Club du Foot Montreal’s pretty dang legit (looking) win down in Dallas, with honorable mention going to DC United for wearing down (my) Portland Timbers, Red Bull punching points out of Houston Dynamo FC and both sides of the New England Revolution’s loss at home against Toronto FC. That lopsided sin over LAFC probably should have made the cut - particularly given how it played out -but X-factors make me skittish, so....</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Right. Here’s what happens next. The list for all of the scores from MLS Week 2 are listed below, with links to The Mothership’s game summaries under each (i.e., the numbers in the middle). I’ve included a key for how closely I watched (or didn’t watch) each game after said list of scores and, after that, I provide some very short notes that include: 1) a one(-ish) sentence summary of each game/highlight reel; 2) mention one thing that might not have been picked up in summaries and highlight shows; and 3) close with a short note on where I see both teams in the today, or maybe sometime next week. I don’t know how much readers will value it, but all that will make sense. Let’s start with the scores:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: bold;">Minnesota United FC <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/minvsclb-03-02-2024/" target="_blank">1-1</a> Columbus Crew SC</b> (H)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: bold;">Real Salt Lake <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/rslvslafc-03-02-2024/" target="_blank">3-0</a> Los Angeles FC</b> (H)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: bold;">Inter Miami CF <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/miavsorl-03-02-2024/" target="_blank">5-0</a> Orlando City SC</b> %</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: bold;">Vancouver Whitecaps <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/vanvsclt-03-02-2024/" target="_blank">1-1</a> Charlotte FC</b> *</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: bold;">Chicago Fire FC <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/chivscin-03-02-2024/" target="_blank">1-2</a> FC Cincinnati</b> %</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: bold;">FC Dallas <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/dalvsmtl-03-02-2024/" target="_blank">1-2</a> Club du Foot Montreal</b> %</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: bold;">Houston Dynamo FC <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/houvsrbny-03-02-2024/" target="_blank">1-2</a> Red Bull New York</b> %</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: bold;">Sporting Kansas City <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/skcvsphi-03-02-2024/" target="_blank">1-1</a> Philadelphia Union</b><b> </b>(H)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: bold;">St. Louis CITY FC <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/stlvsnyc-03-02-2024/" target="_blank">2-0</a> New York City FC</b> * (I still have to sit through this one; notes later)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: bold;">Colorado Rapids <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/colvsnsh-03-02-2024/" target="_blank">1-1</a> Nashville SC</b> *</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: bold;">Portland Timbers <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/porvsdc-03-02-2024/" target="_blank">2-2</a> DC United</b> (full game; link below)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: bold;">San Jose Earthquakes <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/sjvsla-03-02-2024/" target="_blank">1-3</a> Los Angeles Galaxy</b> %</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: bold;">Seattle Sounders <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/seavsatx-03-02-2024/" target="_blank">0-0</a> Austin FC</b> *</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: bold;">New England Revolution <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/nevstor-03-03-2024/" target="_blank">0-1</a> Toronto FC</b> (H)</div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">% - I watched 40+ minutes (the relevant times are noted) and checked the box score</div><div style="text-align: justify;">(H) - I watched The Mothership's highlight reel and checked the box score</div><div style="text-align: justify;">* - I clocked the score, but, unless I read something about it (didn't this week), I ignored it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">With that, enjoy some brief notes on many topics.... </div><div><br /><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Dg9qR2WQc5p7VBmpTihmFIDx55eiLZNWJJO8k-_fJvFm4XELzXtqlzqK45s5IKJsd5CfLGRWNDfhjmiI0XMIj4WA1N2MRlQ8RQj_YXYH45JgPGq2kh0uYyc2UmUUbCv2D4yuwZ0fmVc_jlni_RiZMyXM6VsmHAmC4QxbMzogug41ouiKWK0YLzNQidig/s516/KristoffersonSilvefox.webp" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="516" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Dg9qR2WQc5p7VBmpTihmFIDx55eiLZNWJJO8k-_fJvFm4XELzXtqlzqK45s5IKJsd5CfLGRWNDfhjmiI0XMIj4WA1N2MRlQ8RQj_YXYH45JgPGq2kh0uYyc2UmUUbCv2D4yuwZ0fmVc_jlni_RiZMyXM6VsmHAmC4QxbMzogug41ouiKWK0YLzNQidig/s320/KristoffersonSilvefox.webp" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>This fucker again.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Inter Miami CF 5-0 Orlando City SC</b> (1-15, 20-30, 50-65)</div></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">The Game in One Sentence</u>: Think of watching someone try very hard to succeed at something for a very long time (Orlando) and then seeing someone trying the same thing for the first time and straight-up killing it (Miami) and you have this game in a nutshell.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">One Thing You Might Not Know</u>: Lionel Messi got the headlines – because, marketing meets golden goose – but Luis Suarez finally showed up (he served an immaculate cross on <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/goal-l-messi-vs-orl-62#goal-l-messi-vs-orl-62" target="_blank">Miami’s fifth goal</a>), but Julian Gressel had a low-key shout for MVP. <i>That's</i> what worries me about Miami.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re Miam</u>i: Precision is a motherfucker. They’ll make the playoffs unless their legs give out.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re Orlando</u>: Probably safe, but not living up to 2023 yet.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Chicago Fire FC 1-2 FC Cincinnati</b> (25-45; 60-80)</div></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">The Game in One Sentence</u>: Xherdan Shaqiri v Luciano Acosta; you know how this ended, just not why.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">One Thing You Might Not Know</u><u> (but may expect given the givens)</u>: Imagine (reportedly) spending $12 million for a striker only for the rest of the team starve him to where’s basically wandering the wastes just to stay alive. His Name was Hugo Cuypers. Chicago fired just five shots all game, a mark they’d reached by the 65th minute, so that’s <i>zero</i> shots in the game’s last 35+ minutes.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re Chicago</u>: I was amped about the rebuild until I saw the rebuild. Now it just feels like I’m watching Chicago again.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re Cincinnati</u>: A brick shithouse at the back, plus Acosta very likely means more wins than losses. It'll take injuries or dumb shit from Matt Miazga to keep them out of the mix.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>FC Dallas 1-2 Club du Foot Montreal</b> (10-25, 30-45; 50-60)</div></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">The Game in One Sentence</u>: One team couldn’t stop finding vertical passes, despite having two starters limp off (Opoku and Coccaro for Montreal), while the other burned time passing like a pendulum across the backline in search of their first one (Dallas).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">One Thing You Might Not Know</u>: I can’t explain what Dallas is doing with their defensive shape and/or posture.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re Dallas</u>: They’re not consistent, rarely have been. Their fans are very loyal. Respect. But also probably good enough for the playoffs.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re Montreal</u>: I am officially interested. Dallas’ defense was weird, but Montreal took what they gave them with aplomb.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Houston Dynamo FC 1-2 Red Bull New York</b> (1-15, 35-45+, 50-65)</div></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">The Game in One Sentence</u>: Red Bull won the game on a bare-ass give-away by Artur (of all people) and <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/goal-l-morgan-vs-hou-59#goal-l-morgan-vs-hou-59" target="_blank">a deserving crack on goal</a> by Lewis Morgan; both teams seem to have good bones.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">One Thing You Might Not Know</u>: Watch as much of <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/goal-e-manoel-vs-hou-43#goal-e-manoel-vs-hou-43" target="_blank">Red Bulls’ first goal</a> as you can, because it shows you they can <i>actually</i> play, but I think Morgan turns them into a genuine attacking threat.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re Houston</u>: Olsen and improved personnel have them playing good stuff, even without Hector Herrera and the (functional) No. 9 they crave; that’s usually enough to somewhere, if only so far.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re Red Bull</u>: Both hopeful and concerned that they may actually be worth a damn.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>San Jose Earthquakes 1-3 Los Angeles Galaxy</b> (10-25, 35-45+, 45-50,60-70)</div></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">The Game in One Sentence</u>: No matter how capably one grasps at straws, it doesn’t change the nature of the act itself; the Galaxy looked like the home team, far from invulnerable but still in control and confident.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">One Thing You Might Not Know</u>: The Galaxy put all six of their shots on target, which makes perfect sense when you see the shots San Jose gave them (LA’s <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/goal-d-joveljic-vs-sj-43#goal-d-joveljic-vs-sj-43" target="_blank">second goal</a> and <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/goal-r-puig-vs-sj-48#goal-r-puig-vs-sj-48" target="_blank">third goal</a>).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re San Jose</u>: I used to feel like Jeremy Ebobisse got a smart trade. Looks like another season in the wastes so far.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re the Galaxy</u>: I’m far from writing this in pen, but the Galaxy looked like a reasonable bet to shove one of 2023’s playoff teams from the West under the line. I don’t even think they’re on their best starting roster yet.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Fine…</div><br /><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVeL2dztWQJRHtFD_1JcfVM8kIFTud3YYQn2VmWrbv-SfO057r4nk-EeN-KHz8_Cau_QU9-EJQYjFCuvoOi5IO5yRwMj5MOyU7Ty4zgt0mn__CBJiRzQiz3NnVrTlcjTp6nyCnBxvA1kHlqJhRARsf01wEhae31ib-1AaVUH1TvTTx2JQuEuohCBVKmu8n/s768/48367267401_058a9fe3b2_o_2400.jpg.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="768" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVeL2dztWQJRHtFD_1JcfVM8kIFTud3YYQn2VmWrbv-SfO057r4nk-EeN-KHz8_Cau_QU9-EJQYjFCuvoOi5IO5yRwMj5MOyU7Ty4zgt0mn__CBJiRzQiz3NnVrTlcjTp6nyCnBxvA1kHlqJhRARsf01wEhae31ib-1AaVUH1TvTTx2JQuEuohCBVKmu8n/s320/48367267401_058a9fe3b2_o_2400.jpg.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Trickle becomes a flood becomes heartbreak.</i></td></tr></tbody></table>Portland Timbers 2-2 DC United</b> (watched the whole damned thing; <a href="https://conifersandcitrus.blogspot.com/2024/03/portland-timbers-2-2-dc-united.html" target="_blank">extended notes here</a>) <br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>The Game in One Sentence</u>: I can do this in a word: erosion. I know there are multiple theories on how Portland coughed up two points, but I’m going with the weight of inexorable pressure.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">One Thing You Might Not Know</u>: Pretty much everything. See below.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re the Timbers</u>: If only I knew. Honestly. Even with a DP forward coming and (what feels like) half the roster off the board, I still don’t know.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re DC</u>: Also, pending, but (this is coming out like someone extracted it from my throat) Troy Lesesne seems to be on to something with that (damned) press. <i>[Ed. - It takes a lot for me to like pressing teams.]</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Minnesota United FC 1-1 Columbus Crew SC</b> (H)</div></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">The Highlights in One Sentence</u>: The Loons look to have escaped in every sense of the word, but you won’t see a better goal celebration all season <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/minvsclb-03-02-2024/" target="_blank">than Tani Oluwaseyi’s</a> after Minnesota’s late, battling equalizer.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">One Thing You Might Not Know</u>: I’d say Dane St. Clair v Cucho Hernandez, but you probably do know about that one.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re Minnesota</u>: Between absences (e.g., Reynoso and Hlongwane) and knowing that they will have a new head coach some day, Minnesota has more room for improvement than most.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re Columbus</u>: Yep, still among the favorites.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Real Salt Lake 3-0 Los Angeles FC</b> (H)</div></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">The Highlights in One Sentence</u>: It slipped into farce by the 98th minute (snow looked two inches deep) and LAFC’s complaint about continuing the game in a blizzard were equal parts correct and comedy, but that would have denied RSL’s Andres Gomez a glorious back-drop for the best game of his career (a Colombian killing it in a blizzard…who knew?).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">One Thing You Might Not Know</u>: RSL’s Zac MacMath had a good and busy game (e.g., <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/rslvslafc-03-02-2024/stats" target="_blank">he made 7 saves</a> and LAFC out-shot RSL).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re RSL</u>: The project as a playoff team and an absolute pain in the ass.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re LAFC</u>: Should also be fine, but, <i>god</i>, is their bitterness satisfying.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Sporting Kansas City 1-1 Philadelphia Union</b> (H)</div></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">The Highlights in One Sentence</u>: <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/goal-r-walter-vs-phi-19#goal-r-walter-vs-phi-19" target="_blank">The camerawoman’s reaction</a> (see about 0:20 on that - and make it a meme) to Remi Walter’s goal celebration is the real highlight, but rest of the highlights make a fair case that SKC looked best against Philly’s A-minus team and got run to ground once the visitors called on their starters.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">One Thing You Might Not Know</u>: Johnny Russell got a bout of tunnel-vision, going all in on shooting from tight angles when better options (named Alan Pulido) waited from better ones (if just that one time early).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re SKC</u>: A decent team that might not have any options for upgrades…which I feel like they could use. Liked the little I saw from Jake Davis, fwiw.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Present Operational Theory re Philly: They’ll be fine, should finish in the Top 5 in the East still.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>New England Revolution 0-1 Toronto FC</b> (H)</div></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">The Highlights in One Sentence</u>: I would have gone with Carles Gil failing to match Lorenzo Insigne’s (for me) <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/goal-l-insigne-vs-ne-27#goal-l-insigne-vs-ne-27" target="_blank">Goal of the Week</a>, but then I noted all the saves Sean Johnson made by the end of reel and popped over to <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/nevstor-03-03-2024/stats" target="_blank">the stats page</a> and now I know Toronto road Johnson like a trick pony.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">One Thing You Might Not Know</u>: Seriously, hit that link because they Revs lit it up. For my money, the best team currently on zero points, even if they can only look good for so long before looking bad sticks.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re New England</u>: Their slow starts to games have delivered a slow start to the season. Should be better – and good enough – after they wrap their CONCACAF Champions Cup run.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re Toronto</u>: A great start for team that stumbled after their best season and lit themselves on fire in 2023. Hope springs, if momentarily.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Vancouver Whitecaps 1-1 Charlotte FC *</b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re Vancouver</u>: Still waiting for them to be as good as Matt Doyle thinks they’ll be.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re Charlotte</u>: I see a playoff bubble team until that signs point one way or another.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Colorado Rapids 1-1 Nashville SC</b> *</div></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re Colorado</u>: Still feel like a good bet to miss the playoffs.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re Nashville</u>: Still feel like a good bet to bore the holy shit out of the neutrals on their way to making the playoffs.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Seattle Sounders 0-0 Austin FC</b> *</div></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re Seattle</u>: Saw a one-panel cartoon about them missing a poo-ton of shots, but bet they’ll make the playoffs.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Present Operational Theory re Austin</u>: Bet they’ll miss the playoffs.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">That’s a warp…shit. That’s a wrap for MLS Week 2. Till Week 3, which may run a little late. (What? I’m hosting a potluck and then I’ve got the Oscars the next night. Literally all appearances aside, I have a life.)</div></div>Jeff Bullhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11384922554068429807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1394291933100545145.post-75613044210038062342024-03-03T00:03:00.000-08:002024-03-03T08:37:19.341-08:00Portland Timbers 2-2 DC United: Fragility & Composure<div style="text-align: justify;">The Portland Timbers had all three points in their sweaty palms against DC United tonight only to piss two of them away one raised arm and one catastrophic failure in weak-side defending at a time. One thing led to another and that led to <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/porvsdc-03-02-2024/" target="_blank">a 2-2 draw-that-felt-like-a-loss final score</a> and...disappointment. Explaining all this gets a little tricky and I want to thank the person who posts as brettcalvin42 on <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/timbers/" target="_blank">the Timbers subreddit</a> for forcing me to think a little harder about all this.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After a cautious opening minute or three, DC kicked into the fast-zombie press I expected from them. Like any press, it’s designed to force and feast on errors and it started to work its dark magic until Santiago Moreno pulled the <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/goal-d-asprilla-vs-dc-18#goal-d-asprilla-vs-dc-18">classic soccer judo move</a> of letting a ball pass across his body to carry it past a lunging DC defender (probably Pedro Santos). With the wide spaces of the right open to him, Moreno slipped a pass into Dairon Asprilla who finished off the play neatly as you like: 1-0 to the Timbers. And, as good things follow from good deeds, that break seemed to unsettle the one-way certainty of DC’s press. Despite all the buzzing harassment, the Timbers left the field at halftime with a slim but real advantage on the attacking side. They worked transition as well as they ever have and had a real chance to score one more when Moreno found an Eryk Williamson run that twisted DC’s (I think) Christopher McVey damn near out of his shoes.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">All that inspired me to chime in with a short note that ended with “I’m happy” on a game thread on the Timbers subreddit. brettcalvin42 took issue with the general statement with a curt note about how giving the ball away was killing the Timbers. Even as I stand by what I…subreddited (is there a reddit equivalent of a tweet?) at halftime, his long-view take became more right than mine as the game went on. What I want to kick around below is why that happened.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Before digging into that, a couple things bear noting. First, for as little as they did in the first half, DC did create two <i>sparklingly</i> clear chances – the first a free header by Cristian Dajome from the outer chack of the six-yard box (which prompted a positively adorable, “I forgive you” hug by Maxime Crepeau to Zac McGraw), the other a shoo-in tap-in for Jared Stroud rediected by a timely toe-poke by Eric Miller. Those slips aside, and with a nod to the halftime stats, I did feel good about where Portland was at halftime. So I sub-redditted about it…</div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Those good vibez carried into the second half when…enough of the same things continued. And I felt like the Timbers had pocketed all three points when Moreno capped off a set-piece scrum (i.e., typically the bane of the home team) <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/goal-s-moreno-vs-dc-61#goal-s-moreno-vs-dc-61" target="_blank">by slotting home</a> Portland’s second goal of the night. All the Timbers had to do from there was withstand that grabastic freneticism of DC’s attack – something I felt good about them doing, based specifically on the way they’d managed the first half. I flagged the slips, but Portland’s defense hadn’t given DC much besides. At one very special moment, Zac McGraw cleared three aerial balls in one sequence. Diego Chara seemed to cover the whole of the defensive third and, when the Timbers got on the ball, they seemed to see enough of the North Star to know where they had to go…</div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">…and then all that stopped. The question is why. It’s here that we get to the appetizer for brettcalvin42’s argument. The first goal the Timbers gave up was just plain fucking stupid. The ref (who was…factually, a referee) correctly awarded DC a penalty when the ball hit Chara’s arm (sorry, you have to sit through <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/highlights-portland-timbers-vs-dc-united-march-2-2024#highlights-portland-timbers-vs-dc-united-march-2-2024" target="_blank">the full highlights</a> to see it), which he had raised to make an offside call that he did not have the authority to make. (A good first rule of soccer: <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Aptos; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">if you are a player, be a player, not a referee</span>. Mateusz Klich slotted home the PK and, with that, the human element took control of result that AI had declared over, done and in Portland’s favor (a reference to the weird “win-percentage” thing AppleTV introduced to the broadcasts).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Timbers did, indeed, keep giving the ball away. Over and over and fucking over. Portland made a couple substitutions – David Ayala for Williamsons and Dario Zuparic for Eric Miller – but, as I see it, all that did was remove a player with some capacity to hold the possession high up the field (i.e., Eryk). And yet the Timbers kept playing the same game: forever push the ball forward in hopes of finding another Moreno-esque moment to shatter DC’s press. The Timbers rode that one-trick pony to the end of the game and, to brettcalvin42’s point, without that approach ever looking good for paying off. I lost track of the number of times Asprilla dropped back for a half-hopeful post-up, or that a Timbers player took the ball at his feet and attempted to turn toward goal, only with a DC defender’s knee halfway up his ass. I spent the last 20 minutes of the game psychically begging the Timbers to play just <i>one</i> possession pass (which I said I thought they should do in <a href="https://conifersandcitrus.blogspot.com/2024/02/dc-united-scouting-report-on-coping.html" target="_blank">my preview!</a>) instead of trying to find a path to the winner with every single pass from the 70th minute onward. If I had to guess, I’d say DC caught on to the tactical choice and rendered it farcical.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">DC scored <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/porvsdc-03-02-2024/" target="_blank">their equalizer</a> 10 minutes after scoring their first goal. While you didn’t feel it coming as you watched the game, its inevitability followed from Lloyd Sam casually asking “wow, how is he that open?” like night follows day. The highlights are painful here, but worth watching. Portland had over-committed to an overload up the left, which left DC free to find Pedro Santos on their left; the defense, both meanwhile and inexplicably, had over-committed to defending the Portland’s right, which left Jackson Hopkins in a pasture on Portland’s left(/weakside). From there, all it took for two points to float into oblivion was an Aaron Herrera overlap and a back-post run by Kristian Fletcher to find a tap-in he’ll see only four or five times before he hangs up his boots.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">If I had to pin this dloss on anything (I’m using “dloss” as shorthand for a draw that feels like a loss; feel free to workshop it), I’m inclined to point to the stupid shit on the defensive side and, to brettcavlin42’s point, a collective failure to be smarter on the ball. Nothing about this game or the sport of soccer generally commands teams to play a possession game, but the collective failure to play the obvious pass, even if just here and there, fucked them up tonight. When a team presses, making them chase the ball just by (again, as noted in the preview) keeping it moving is a wholly defensible choice both players and coach can make. The number of times I saw the Timbers make the opposite choice – which, here, means forcing low-percentage forward passes, whether to feet or to space, or generally tying to hero the ball up the field…well, it just made me wonder.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Even so, the failure on the defensive side bugs me a little more. It’s not just the stupid mistakes, because those happen – again, think how rock-on-which-I’ll-build-my-church solid McGraw was through the first half, and yet how badly did he lose Dajome on that free header? – so much as the complete unravelling at the end of the game. That’s doubly-irritating when you see how well Portland stymied DC in that low-block ‘ n’ counter through the second half of the first half. A part of me feels like, if they’d <i>committed</i> to that, to actually making DC break them down, they might have produced enough thicket to prevent DC’s second goal. I think they tried to have the best of both worlds, basically, and lost as many points as a result. What I think I’m saying is that the bunker-‘n’-counter can only work when you actually bunker. DC’s second goal looked an awful lot like what happens when you don’t.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I had a couple talking points – fun ones too, stuff about my favorite subject, the midfield – but most of those came to me when I thought I had a win to praise. The bad result killed them, in other words. All in all, it seems like the Timbers need to nail down some fundamentals before kicking around the exotic makes any real sense.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>[<u>UPDATE</u>: I just found the paraphrase below on a reddit post that clocked the post-game presser and now I'm kicking myself because all of the above could have been replaced with it:</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">"Phil says that DC wanted to create chaos, and Timbers players allowed
themselves to get dragged into playing a way that they didn't want to
play."] <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Till the next one…</div></div>Jeff Bullhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11384922554068429807noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1394291933100545145.post-18491543273363819052024-02-29T20:32:00.000-08:002024-02-29T20:32:17.037-08:00DC United Scouting Report: 75% Coping with Fast Zombies<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9FDg7uafaAFuzVatJZZgOL1a8q6uXv-FrMilHkHXJnQxe95T6SzYlZ7d0toe0QRfBsAasaRPsvDs_TKLTRAwXhrgXM5ZxAYRnW7sZMvT07z_wMImwPj11AUcKd1ZNvwECHzgRxlnN49ztHjF6kkUU2pbVFBejx2iXXiWbWnCLTpfLQTZmIBgHhOpOVqyQ/s622/ghows-TH-0e9f1bac-0874-4124-a074-0bbba24e2635-bee4a493.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="622" data-original-width="468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9FDg7uafaAFuzVatJZZgOL1a8q6uXv-FrMilHkHXJnQxe95T6SzYlZ7d0toe0QRfBsAasaRPsvDs_TKLTRAwXhrgXM5ZxAYRnW7sZMvT07z_wMImwPj11AUcKd1ZNvwECHzgRxlnN49ztHjF6kkUU2pbVFBejx2iXXiWbWnCLTpfLQTZmIBgHhOpOVqyQ/s320/ghows-TH-0e9f1bac-0874-4124-a074-0bbba24e2635-bee4a493.webp" width="241" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Only time will tell...</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">DC United kicked off its 2024 regular season with <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/dcvsne-02-24-2024/" target="_blank">a 3-1 home win</a> over the New England Revolution that knocked Armchair Analyst, Matt Doyle, off the fence. He’s now convinced that DC will make the 2024 playoffs, spin of the wheel with odds equal to betting it'll rain during November in Portland. He may be right, he may be crazy, he just may be the lunatic we’re looking for…but all I can think when I look at the East so far is “<i>competitive</i>.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">That’s a thought for another day, because the only thing I care about right now is whether the Portland Timbers can compete against DC on Saturday at…is it still Providence Park, or did the state of Oregon’s real estate king/hospital system fuck off a la Da Bella? Anyhoo, as much as the weight of <a href="https://www.timbers.com/schedule/#competition=all&date=2024-03-02" target="_blank">the schedule ahead</a> feels lighter than it did when it first dropped – see road games against the punchless (e.g., New York City FC) and the wounded (Houston Dynamo FC) teams – I’d still rate the hike till May as moderate to difficult at a minimum. The Timbers can knock down that hike to easy-to-moderate, but they’ll have to play well to do it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Based on the few indicators at hand, DC will shove that question to the fore, one way or the other. They may or may not be good –I’ll get to that – but they play the game like smartly-trained methed-up puppies. They showed they have the youth and legs last week to run a <i>highly</i> active and coordinated press; no Revolution player could hold the ball for over a second without a DC player either jumping in his pocket or chasing him like a ravening fast zombie. With a new coach (Troy Lesesne), early-season enthusiasm, and the team’s storied (long ago) history lashing at their shoulders, I expect DC to run at every Timbers player within 20 yards of the ball from the starting whistle until they take a spell to catch the breath. The method to the madness showed up in <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/columbus-stay-elite-galaxy-push-miami-more-from-mls-is-back" target="_blank">Doyle’s Big Week 1 Wrap</a>:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><i><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>“Lesesne talked all week about winning the ball higher up the pitch to give [Christian] Benteke opportunities and it worked.”</i></div></i><div style="text-align: justify;">- Calen Carr</div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">The good news: a competent team can play through that. New England did it in Week 1, even with a player tied behind their backs (Giacomo Vrioni got sent off at the 25th). Assuming DC does go all-in on the press (as they did against the Revs), they get high enough on the field to leave exploitable space behind them and, as it happens, I found <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/DCUnited/comments/1b0rt74/team_looked_good/" target="_blank">a post-game thread on DC’s subreddit</a> full of fretting about their capacity to defend in transition (can’t vouch for where it went from there, so…).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So long as I’m questioning what readers get from <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/" target="_blank">The Official Party Organ</a>, I should probably address this:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><i><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>“The Benteke point is well-taken. Put him out there with two fullbacks who can cross and he’s a nightmare for opposing center backs.”</i></div></i><div style="text-align: justify;">- Matt Doyle</div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisRmmBiNflH_ScGTKagCn09h2ZS6YLe7d_8ahdu9SfnlbnY8tfNp-cxaT7bXZuquvLDEgHia6sONKcJaVVkH1FAwiQk89rzENXOZKyk34kF278pWiBkrKdzD5G00e-vbA8kkrRJbodYosBMXAHm33OM0rMMwX_XiAKlNQrdMGYbZ7W-XAZ44yYmSz8JIQC/s1400/Dawn-of-the-Dead-2004-Zombie-Horde.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1400" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisRmmBiNflH_ScGTKagCn09h2ZS6YLe7d_8ahdu9SfnlbnY8tfNp-cxaT7bXZuquvLDEgHia6sONKcJaVVkH1FAwiQk89rzENXOZKyk34kF278pWiBkrKdzD5G00e-vbA8kkrRJbodYosBMXAHm33OM0rMMwX_XiAKlNQrdMGYbZ7W-XAZ44yYmSz8JIQC/w400-h200/Dawn-of-the-Dead-2004-Zombie-Horde.webp" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Yeah, yeah. I've used this one before. Blame Red Bull.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">I didn’t see a lot of that crossing over the 50+ minutes I watched; moreover, the only time I saw it in <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/highlights-dc-united-vs-new-england-revolution-february-24-2024#highlights-dc-united-vs-new-england-revolution-february-24-2024" target="_blank">the highlights</a> comes on DC’s/Benteke’s <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/goal-c-benteke-vs-ne-90-3#goal-c-benteke-vs-ne-90-3" target="_blank">third goal</a>…now, hold this thought (and the other one). What I did see was a team <i>committed</i> to putting constant pressure on the opposition, with or without the ball, and most of what I saw passed through the channels and ended with just about everyone firing on goal as if compelled by invisible shock collars, range and clutter be damned; Theodore (“Teddy,” right?) Ku-DiPietro and Gabriel Pirani must have had wires all over with the way they fired away. That’s where the last quibble comes in: The Official Party Organ’s <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/dcvsne-02-24-2024/stats" target="_blank">stats page</a> for the game shows DC firing 31 shots with just 5 of those on goal – which tracks a hell of a lot better than the 5.0(?) xG they somehow mathematized out of thin air.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">To finally pick up a question posed up in the…third paragraph, is DC United a good team? I don't have answer better than a hunch, but I do expect a very real challenge – if just by way of the (expected) pressing. And Benteke really does give them a cultured “big man” forward, physical, dynamic and technical all at once. They get composure and experience out of Mateusz Klich and the fans on that subreddit gave newcomer Matti Peltola something like a tongue-bath, he even got blessed as “a revelation.” Finally, in defense of the above-mentioned fullbacks who fire into Benteke – Pedro Santos and Aaron Herrera – they do fit the “can cross” description. Now, for the players around them…</div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizMH3AuhJsJs69B50B9W0cJIwLupJ4P4ASLivRp1ZJUu0zswTj6PTbbHj3dtEjgWn-a66iCrzKxYLTH0o6zw2X8PfxxS2cgfWyVAYm8VYByw_w1-cOMjYP4DrNs9odeQ7-EKaKc4n4NSxVWnvXKltZWC4hjO616BnXX5wdYG0rAOVOx3drU4erMsLCCfzU/s1600/Nigel-Havers-Ben-Cross-Chariots-of-Fire.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1244" data-original-width="1600" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizMH3AuhJsJs69B50B9W0cJIwLupJ4P4ASLivRp1ZJUu0zswTj6PTbbHj3dtEjgWn-a66iCrzKxYLTH0o6zw2X8PfxxS2cgfWyVAYm8VYByw_w1-cOMjYP4DrNs9odeQ7-EKaKc4n4NSxVWnvXKltZWC4hjO616BnXX5wdYG0rAOVOx3drU4erMsLCCfzU/s320/Nigel-Havers-Ben-Cross-Chariots-of-Fire.webp" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Get some short shorts in there...</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">Pirani and Ku-DiPietro (reasonably referred to as “KDP”) do come off as over-eager, an impression every source I consulted kicked around and confirmed. Closer to goal, and with Steve Birnbaum out, DC paired Lucas Bartlett (who came over from St. Louis CITY FC) and Christopher McVey as starting center backs. The latter went…fine and Pirani and KDP brought those youthful, pressing (sweating, heaving) legs to the game and all that energy provides a form of value. Somewhere or another, I read bated whispers of another player, Martin Rodriguez, who may kick in a little more proverbial “oomph” – and, if he plays Saturday, I’ll take that as consequential (I mean, why not?)…but, to bring it back to the original question…</div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Nothing I saw sold me on DC as a “good team.” They played a good game, for sure, but if the jury isn’t still out, it should be. While this doesn’t rise to “Exhibit A” levels, I want to circle back to the goals Benteke scored because they key in on the first thing the Timbers defense needs to do Saturday. Not that, aka, Dave Romney losing an MVP nominee (right?) in the penalty area on <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/goal-c-benteke-vs-ne-72#goal-c-benteke-vs-ne-72" target="_blank">the second goal</a> and what looked one hell of a lot like Henrich Ravas calling off Jonathan Mensah only to punch helplessly into Benteke’s lower back on the third (link above; that one's weird enough to be worth watching). I’d stick Zac McGraw on Benteke, if within reason (i.e., he can’t roam all over) as a first step and grow from there. Now…</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Some Closing Notes</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">1) <u>The Acehole Up the Sleeve</u></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Jared Stroud comes off as one of those guys who carries the word “competitive” as a shield, so that people won't call him what he seems to be, aka, a massive asshole. I’ve resisted this for as long as I could, but…he is also good, i.e., active, soundly technical, and smart enough to cause real problems. He’s built for this system (possibly born and raised in it; think he’s a Red Bull product) and it’s possible he wants it more than any Timber. Keep an eye on DC’s No. 8.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">2) <u>Don’t Let Last Week’s Fatal Flaw Become This Week’s Deadly Mistake</u></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Timbers offered Colorado <i>days</i> to tee up their crosses in Week 1. Late in the game, I swear to God I saw fullbacks running <i>away</i> from the player crossing the ball (run away! run away!). I get concern around this, especially with all of Benteke’s body parts lurking in the area, but I’d also hate to see Portland defend wide areas at, say, the expense of leaving the channels open or just spreading the field too much in the defensive third. I saw enough of DC firing from range that I'm not so worried about it. Staying tight on the options in the area strikes me as the higher priority. Another good idea: at least <i>try</i> to defend crosses, yeah?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">3) <u>Keep the Ball Moving</u></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Even if the pass looks safe to the point of cowardice, that pass inevitably shifts the state of DC’s press. Get into rhythm, then get to getting that ball up the field. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">4) <u>Play the Game They Give You</u></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I’ll be stunned if DC doesn’t play something close to the game they played against the Revs – mostly because that looks like their best game – but, in the unlikely event they try to suck the Timbers into a bunker-counter situation, I hope to see Phil Neville take them up on it. As follows from seeing them as a team more capable than good, I think the Timbers should take all the field DC’s willing to give them. Related, neither of the center backs who started in Week 1, <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/lucas-bartlett/stats/" target="_blank">Lucas Bartlett</a> and <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/christopher-mcvey/stats/" target="_blank">Christopher McVey</a> – have much experiences as starters, so test those two often as a half-good idea comes to mind, up to and including long balls. If DC goes with Plan A and forces the Timbers into a transition game, I'd stick with the same advice: get at that back-line ASAP and aggressively.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">5) <u>Portland’s Midfield</u></div><div style="text-align: justify;">My main thought: choose carefully. Seriously, I hope Neville thinks about this a couple minutes longer than he thinks he needs to. Fwiw, I’d be tempted to start to defensive-minded players – e.g., Chara with Paredes, and put whomever you start between Evander and Eryk Williamson in front of them and keep whatever front three you start as close to the attack as you can get it from there. Alternatively, you can one d-mid in there and count on Eryk and Evander to both defend and play through the press. However Neville sets it up and who with, I want players who are comfortable on the ball.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">That’s it for this data-dump. I’ll try to shorten up next week’s edition. Just had to explain all the straws I'm grasping at...</div>Jeff Bullhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11384922554068429807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1394291933100545145.post-80292232387449766172024-02-27T23:32:00.000-08:002024-02-28T08:39:07.947-08:00MLS Week 1 Vibez Review: It's Okay to Enjoy It, Even If It Doesn't Mean a Damn Thing<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuNgAUF6V_RyK5orajhhy-8t1_QBnFgz8TcP67Dmw6QI42hGbELcCXbqjMxn7xE88zOwsYMVyGGQ4I36ALOp6TQLT4TJkF6ySIQaW48M1fGWH6mcwn5IbrKznjj-4X8aHSvrNA03RNjVZYLGO3V4UeKW0sZ8hfclgJDdBjXjbxlha2n5CsSm9VRY-WwLE8/s629/open-uri20150422-12561-2syh6f_63e513b5.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="354" data-original-width="629" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuNgAUF6V_RyK5orajhhy-8t1_QBnFgz8TcP67Dmw6QI42hGbELcCXbqjMxn7xE88zOwsYMVyGGQ4I36ALOp6TQLT4TJkF6ySIQaW48M1fGWH6mcwn5IbrKznjj-4X8aHSvrNA03RNjVZYLGO3V4UeKW0sZ8hfclgJDdBjXjbxlha2n5CsSm9VRY-WwLE8/w320-h180/open-uri20150422-12561-2syh6f_63e513b5.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>His eyes are my eyes, rn.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">Welcome to the first one of these quick-hit reviews that, with breaks for vacation(s) and sanity, I plan on posting every week of Major League Soccer’s 2024 regular season – <i>and beyond!</i> (Which, here, only means posting through the playoffs). Before getting into anything at all, here are the results from MLS Week 1:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Inter Miami CF <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/miavsrsl-02-21-2024/" target="_blank">2-0</a> Real Salt Lake (actually watched all of this one; just too late to fold it in)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Columbus Crew SC <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/clbvsatl-02-24-2024/" target="_blank">1-0 </a>Atlanta United FC</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Los Angeles FC <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/lafcvssea-02-24-2024/" target="_blank">2-1</a> Seattle Sounders %</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Charlotte FC <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/cltvsnyc-02-24-2024/" target="_blank">1-0</a> New York City FC</div><div style="text-align: justify;">DC United <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/dcvsne-02-24-2024/" target="_blank">3-1</a> New England Revolution %</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Orlando City SC <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/orlvsmtl-02-24-2024/" target="_blank">0-0</a> Club du Foot Montreal *</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Philadelphia Union <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/phivschi-02-24-2024/" target="_blank">2-2</a> Chicago Fire FC</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Austin FC <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/atxvsmin-02-24-2024/" target="_blank">1-2</a> Minnesota United FC %</div><div style="text-align: justify;">FC Dallas <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/dalvssj-02-24-2024/" target="_blank">2-1</a> San Jose Earthquakes</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Houston Dynamo FC <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/houvsskc-02-24-2024/" target="_blank">1-1</a> Sporting Kansas City *</div><div style="text-align: justify;">St. Louis CITY FC <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/stlvsrsl-02-24-2024/" target="_blank">1-1</a> Real Salt Lake</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Portland Timbers <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/porvscol-02-24-2024/" target="_blank">4-1</a> Colorado Rapids</div><div style="text-align: justify;">FC Cincinnati <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/cinvstor-02-25-2024/" target="_blank">0-0</a> Toronto FC</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Nashville SC <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/nshvsrbny-02-25-2024/" target="_blank">0-0</a> Red Bull New York *</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Los Angeles Galaxy <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/lavsmia-02-25-2024/" target="_blank">1-1</a> Inter Miami CF</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">First, I’ve embedded links to The Mothership’s game summaries under each final score. Second, the above has a pretty simple index:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">% means I went beyond the highlights and box score and actually watched 45+ of the game in question.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">* means I ignored the game entirely.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">[No Symbol] means I checked the highlights and the box score and maybe read <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/columbus-stay-elite-galaxy-push-miami-more-from-mls-is-back" target="_blank">a thing</a> or <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/29-takeaways-one-thought-on-every-team-after-mls-is-back" target="_blank">two</a> (which doesn’t mean I remembered it).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now, I’ll do two things through the rest of the post. Third(?), will be a long paragraph – perhaps even a run-on sentence - that flags your more interesting results for the week just past. Everything under that goes under the titled The Grand Narrative. Fourth (now that I’m rolling with it), I’ll close on notes on all the games I either reviewed (%) or glanced at ([No Symbol]). Ready, set, <i>go!</i></div><i><span><a name='more'></a></span></i><br /><b><u><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-t37kbeBw-HB2NBUztPOROagrSFm75NdycD7wJA8BCMeIuNPqUwNcexQj58PcqRsjq7qZlZ0yvev2uW44tqkjVexXLvn990aoEAj4zbjWayUGTGpUvYs1pqFwX0_v8rsKeQ6zFfvuOP_MmSVzlzcg3o5QOEN_gPpqnwxDXRkY9IJRfICPcFZgprLIVItd/s1136/634dc0e36bd5270019150624.webp" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="852" data-original-width="1136" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-t37kbeBw-HB2NBUztPOROagrSFm75NdycD7wJA8BCMeIuNPqUwNcexQj58PcqRsjq7qZlZ0yvev2uW44tqkjVexXLvn990aoEAj4zbjWayUGTGpUvYs1pqFwX0_v8rsKeQ6zFfvuOP_MmSVzlzcg3o5QOEN_gPpqnwxDXRkY9IJRfICPcFZgprLIVItd/s320/634dc0e36bd5270019150624.webp" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Still not Decision Day...sigh...</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>The Grand Narrative</u></b></div></u></b><div style="text-align: justify;">To state the obvious, not a single one of the results from MLS Week 1 means anything, Your local team may or not have enjoyed a good start, but there’s still a stupid amount of season left to play. Seriously, it’s half-meaningless shit from here till Halloween, maybe even Thanksgiving, so it’s up to you to get all the “ya-yas” you can from all that and here's to hoping it repays the effort. That doesn’t mean, however, that this game or that didn’t give fans and neutrals a little thrill this past weekend. With that, let’s dig into the best stuff…</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I had DC’s 3-1 romp over the Revs as my top-line result until I read that Giacomo Vrioni got sent off at the 25th on a more reasonable yellow than his very stupid first one. DC’s win got as much hype as any result from Week 1, so I’m going to push back gently with this: New England looked better than I expected based on the press (as in reporting) and CCC (CONCACAF Champions’ Cup) travel. DC posted absolutely <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/dcvsne-02-24-2024/stats" target="_blank">crazy stats</a> and their xG bordered on the exotic – and, here, I’ll freely admit that I might have missed the best of their chances, despite taking in 50+ minutes – but it looked like a lot of rushing and flailing based on what I watched. My actual result of the week turned out to be…drum roll…Minnesota’s actual stroll over Austin, in Austin. You’ll find more notes below, but this one had, 1) confirmation bias written all over (re Austin, who come up in some Wooden Spoon convos), and 2) hints and whispers about a sneaky upside for Minnesota. Moving on, Armchair Analyst Matt Doyle made a biggish deal about CCC fatigue (see link under “a thing” above”), so that may have left Philly a little leggy against an enthusiastic visiting Chicago team – and maybe that’s why Cincy’s goalless outing versus Toronto didn’t register – but I’m curious enough about what Chicago’s doing to put a pin in that result (then again, I’m consistently curious about Chicago…also, hold that thought). The interesting results round out with Charlotte FC’s win over NYCFC – though, see notes below - and the Timbers score-line beat-down of the Colorado Rapids raised its share of eyebrows/tents. I floated extended thoughts about the latter <a href="https://conifersandcitrus.blogspot.com/2024/02/portland-timbers-4-1-colorado-rapids.html" target="_blank">in a separate post</a>, but I’d call the argument that pundits puffed the Rapids’ rebuild – or at least the timing of it (but also probably not that) – as the big takeaway from that one. Great win for the Timbers and all – and that’s one boffo final score – but Colorado’s growing pains/<i>actual</i> personnel feels, for lack of a better word, relevant.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">To throw a passing glance at the games I ignored, Nashville and the Red Bulls playing to a goalless draw feels almost natural Houston tying SKC in any year and every season since the dawn of time (i.e., yes, this has been a truth since before the founding of the league, indeed recorded time), I’ve touched on Cincy’s frankly disappointing (yet still ignored) home draw versus Toronto above, and, sure, maybe there is something to Doyle’s CCC theory, seeing that Orlando <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/concacaf-champions-league/2024/matches/orlvscav-02-27-2024/" target="_blank">just comfortably eliminated</a> Cavalry FC earlier tonight just days after falling flat versus Montreal. And yet I read that Orlando over-thought their attacking moments, if that hasn’t been the knock on Orlando since they’ve become competitive, I haven’t heard a better candidate.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Right. Let’s keep this moving, moving, moving, people. Let’s close this puppy out with quick notes on the games I either glanced or stared at.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Columbus Crew SC 1-0 Atlanta United FC</b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Impression</u>: Expected, but still impressive.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The rumors were true on this one: Cucho Hernandez ran riot, Columbus created sterling chances through the first half, and even forced a PK save out of Atlanta’s Brad Guzan. For all that, Atlanta looked far from helpless and there’s no shame in losing to a still healthy and hale defending champion team on the road.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Charlotte FC 1-0 New York City FC</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Impression</u>: NYC looked impotent, despite<a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/cltvsnyc-02-24-2024/stats" target="_blank"> the stats</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Charlotte won on a tap-in put-back from center back Adilson Malanda, who cleaned up a brave near-post run/muscling lean from (winger?) Iuri Tavares, but the real story was how crap/useless NYC looked in the attack. I don’t have a lot to add after that besides, 1) I like that Charlotte signed Junior Urso (I think he’s good) and 2) Kerwin Vargas played a compelling hero/villain in the footage the highlights gave us, talent, meet limitation, etc.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Philadelphia Union 2-2 Chicago Fire FC</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Impression</u>: Looked wild, both teams feeling urgency; not the start Philly wanted, but Chicago showing up on attacking side feels like the real story.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">After that, that Andrew Gutman went down with a non-contact injury feels like one sub-head for this section of notes. Another goes to the Fire’s Brian Gutierrez, who scored <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/goal-b-gutierrez-vs-phi-39#goal-b-gutierrez-vs-phi-39" target="_blank">a goddamn banger</a>, and features prominently in the highlight reel. If I had to flag the most unexpected detail, I’d go with Philly’s Quinn Sullivan taking almost as many bows as Gutierrez. In line with the Revs loss, the Union looked pretty damn capable in this one, the system works, and Daniel Gazdag just keeps going.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>FC Dallas 2-1 San Jose Earthquakes</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Impression</u>: Dallas’ rebuild looks all right, if at a glance.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I know so little about so many of the players that Dallas lined up – e.g., Logan Farrington, Asier Illaramendi, and Dante Sealy – that I barely feel qualified to comment. At the same time, who scored for Dallas but Illaramendi and Sealy (and the first was…<a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/goal-a-illarramendi-vs-sj-25#goal-a-illarramendi-vs-sj-25" target="_blank">whew!</a>). The only caveat here: I don’t know how much of a threat the ‘Quakes pose to Dallas or anybody, really. For as much as I’ve underrated Benjamin Kikanovic and for all Cristian Espinoza’s real quality, the dearth of creativity in San Jose’s middle three (assuming they stick <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/dalvssj-02-24-2024/lineups" target="_blank">with the 4-3-3</a>) really makes you wonder.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>St. Louis CITY FC 1-1 Real Salt Lake</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Impression</u>: I thought RSL looked better…</div><div style="text-align: justify;">It didn’t come easy for the hosts, and it may not have happened at all had Samuel Adeniran not left Brayan Vera <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/goal-s-adeniran-vs-rsl-79#goal-s-adeniran-vs-rsl-79" target="_blank">for dead</a> on the wide-right side of the field, but, despite them only picking up one point from their two first games, RSL still present as a competitive team in the West based on everything I’ve seen from them so far (~100+ minutes of soccer). Fwiw, Eduard Lowen is the player I’d love for the Timbers Evander to be. He’s just a shining example of the best you get from that position.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>DC United 3-1 New England Revolution</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Impression</u>: Less ignore the narrative, than speculate about the ceiling for DC's approach.</div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">To build on the notes above – though only so much, as I’m going to preview DC United’s visit to Portland in a separate post – DC looked genuinely dangerous in this game. For as long as the teams played on even ground, they ruthlessly harassed every New England player that so much as looked at the ball (Matt Polster, in particular, struggled). The Revs started as if they wanted to play any fucking game but the one they were in, but, even after Vrioni got sent off (total dipshit move, fwiw), they demonstrated a very real and reliable ability to play through DC’s press and find chances. Had they been able to cash in early on a clear, polished breakaway by Tomas Chancaly and Carles Gil’s <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/goal-c-gil-vs-dc-67#goal-c-gil-vs-dc-67" target="_blank">GOTW/friggin’ <i>worldie</i></a>, no one would be talking about this result. Christian Benteke deserves every hat trick he gets if only because the man fucking works, but he feasted on scraps in a way that one can only appreciate by watching those goals in context. It's not so much low percentage as, something that could break the wrong way on the right day. If I had to contextualize this win and the way DC played, my best spin would be this: the thing that made the best Red Bull teams of the 2010s great was the technical talent they had – e.g., Thierry Henry, Bradley Wright-Phillips, Sacha Kljestan. DC’s roster has some of that, but there’s a fair element of wait-and-see in the mix.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Austin FC 1-2 Minnesota United FC</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Impression</u>: An ass-whooping, followed by rope-a-hosting-dope.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The thing to remember here: Minnesota won this game walking away without Emanuel Reynoso, Bongokuhle Hlongwane, and Kerwin Arriaga. Going the other way, Austin didn’t have Sebastian Driussi…and yet I feel like Driussi wouldn’t have wade one wit of difference. When I tuned in (circa the 30th minute) the broadcast booth was already taking about how the game could have been 3-0 to Minnesota. Robin Lod, for me, one of <i>the</i> most underrated players in MLS, scored just four minutes later – and that was after pinging a far better shot off a post three minutes earlier. It might have taken Minnesota days to bag the insurance goal, but that was nothing more or less than them doing something good for the 10th time, aka, what Austin failed to do once all night. Austin’s consolation goal barely merits the name. Very much related, I’ve already seen them in the Wooden Spoon conversation and can’t say I saw a reason why they don’t belong in it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Los Angeles FC 2-1 Seattle Sounders</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Impression</u>: How much time and place matter.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Along with the few commentators I follow, I feel like Seattle held enough of their own in this one (and what do you think of those jerseys? I mean besides the fact they look like cute little PJs your very young child might choose in a soccer video game). They broke LAFC’s press and, around the time I started watching (circa the 35th minute), they staged a fairly threatening siege on LAFC’s goal. The way LAFC counter-punched out of that gave a live demonstration of the upside of talent and they put (enough of) the game away with <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/goal-m-bogusz-vs-sea-55#goal-m-bogusz-vs-sea-55" target="_blank">a wunder-goal</a> by Mateusz Bogusz shortly after the half (even if the thing to watch there is how much Denis Bouanga's gravity opened space for Bogusz). Still, LAFC follows a familiar and effective template and, if the broadcast is to believed, they have rebuilt the team to make it work, starting with the return of (is he the best No. 8 in MLS?) Eduard Atuesta – i.e., force turnovers higher up the field and go to goal as if the power of Jesus compels you(!). That worked in Week 1, if nothing else. If I have a regret when it comes to what I watched, that would be not spending enough time watching Pedro de la Vega’s first minutes in MLS. Fuck it, I have, like, 33 games and ten fucking years to get current on that, so, yolo…</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">That’s a wrap for this edition. I hope to tighten up the formula and the commentary – and to post these on Mondays instead of Tuesdays – but that’s for next week. Till then….</div></div>Jeff Bullhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11384922554068429807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1394291933100545145.post-53357982610585080182024-02-25T15:06:00.000-08:002024-02-25T15:06:53.706-08:00Portland Timbers 4-1 Colorado Rapids: Yes, with a Great Big (Twerking) But(t)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJqrqbdWtXX0PaonZTXD84tBGciVyyc9Tk7HUMGwQ2ztQAOumXaiIsmnS95JrnJxtSLN4i7Amg5DKTK_Wdtlu8t64OvYRYEG3QxXfKlF5WD8QUS0CgBttcgvqg3ph1ojYEO4944LS4sYVHHIcmipqXpBrLBvbBfTLVK3RaXpSyi4N7a2XIyLOZN0PuaYLA/s2000/GettyImages-1232107197.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJqrqbdWtXX0PaonZTXD84tBGciVyyc9Tk7HUMGwQ2ztQAOumXaiIsmnS95JrnJxtSLN4i7Amg5DKTK_Wdtlu8t64OvYRYEG3QxXfKlF5WD8QUS0CgBttcgvqg3ph1ojYEO4944LS4sYVHHIcmipqXpBrLBvbBfTLVK3RaXpSyi4N7a2XIyLOZN0PuaYLA/s320/GettyImages-1232107197.webp" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A conversation taking place.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">I’ve got an angel on one shoulder fretting about getting carried away and a devil merrily twerking on the other whispering about giving all the way in and to every temptation. The angel’s going to win this round, and for a number of reasons, but mostly because I know too much about getting ahead of myself. That doesn’t mean the Portland Timbers <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/porvscol-02-24-2024/" target="_blank">4-1 stroll over the Colorado Rapids</a> didn’t feel great and soothing (like a good heating pad…I’m using one now). It just means taking a couple considerations seriously – and starting with a big one.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Rapids fell apart before they got started in that first half. There, I’m talking less about Portland’s first goal (which I’ll come back to) than <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/goal-antony-vs-col-14#goal-antony-vs-col-14" target="_blank">the second</a>. All the credit in the world to Cristhian Paredes for finding Antony isolated a step behind of the penalty spot against Colorado’s Keegan Rosenberry, but you’re not going to see a captain go down with the ship the way Rosenberry did last night outside of your more chilling maritime disasters. Even allowing for the possibility that Antony’s stronger than he looks (and after last night, that’s a yes), I don’t know how a defender with Rosenberry’s experience lets the young winger get in front of him on that play.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">To circle back to the maritime metaphor, who was around him when Antony scored his second goal of the night (<a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/goal-antony-vs-col-29#goal-antony-vs-col-29" target="_blank">Portland's third</a>)? Rosenberry. And when Antony cut across the ball that bounced of the Rapids’ Sam Vines and into the net for <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/own-goal-s-vines-col-45-5#own-goal-s-vines-col-45-5" target="_blank">a collective, soul-crushing own-goal</a> (and Portland's fourth)? Yep, Rosenberry again.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">That gets to the first big caveat the damn angel has sold me on: unless he ate 1,000 bowls of Wheaties and chased it with a course of high-grade steroids over the off-season, I doubt you’re going to see Antony run over, around a through a player like he did Rosenberry. Don’t get me wrong: I <i>really</i> loved what I saw from Antony yesterday – his defensive work as much as the three goal contributions (and can we call that a hat trick, so long as we take the asterisk with it) - but the caveat in re Keegan Rosenberry, aka, the captain to Colorado’s Titanic, feels like a sub-caveat to a larger one. To wit: for all the changes they made to their 2023 roster, the Colorado Rapids still have some road to walk before they arrive at capable and, if Chris Armas hasn’t improved drastically as a head coach since the last time I watched him a work, Colorado’s walk will be uphill both ways and through three feet of snow.</div><span><a name='more'></a></span> <br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyX4UT6KRMvCybtwt9acfQtVmEFJbEad0fFYJ0i9OpAaoddSI7NNUl1U6z29cucYvLhyphenhyphen3VGHVMEWWson5cHMzWyyAMIJ0kh7zwnubyjeTZw-nKmCegBwvs4p_cjwqlVDR-C6AVqVHKALYhFlQC2eMZ7pWeZPBDSlpKeyewpdbB31LDGZwPpxKcDTYPN0PK/s500/whiting-titnic2_orig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="374" data-original-width="500" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyX4UT6KRMvCybtwt9acfQtVmEFJbEad0fFYJ0i9OpAaoddSI7NNUl1U6z29cucYvLhyphenhyphen3VGHVMEWWson5cHMzWyyAMIJ0kh7zwnubyjeTZw-nKmCegBwvs4p_cjwqlVDR-C6AVqVHKALYhFlQC2eMZ7pWeZPBDSlpKeyewpdbB31LDGZwPpxKcDTYPN0PK/s320/whiting-titnic2_orig.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>More lifeboats needed. And a better boat.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">For all the chatter that surrounded their rebuild, you only need to know a couple of names to see that in <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/porvscol-02-24-2024/lineups" target="_blank">Colorado’s starting line-up</a> last night. However highly you personally rate Djordje Mihailovic (he’s a solid B for me), he can’t do it all on his own. All it takes from there is checking the names around him and seeing players like Calvin Harris, Cole Bassett and the Rapids’ young DP forward, Rafael Navarro. Harris I knew from his on-off time with FC Cincinnati and Bassett has waited for his breakout season since 2019; Navarro, meanwhile, hasn’t posted even young DP numbers since joining the Rapids last season (in fairness, he played <a href="https://www.coloradorapids.com/players/rafael-navarro/stats/" target="_blank">just 10 games for the Rapids in 2023</a>); the trend continues with substitutions like Jonathan Lewis and Omir Fernandez, both decent players but, along with the rest of the players noted above, none of the strong enough to throw the team on his back and run for glory: by my math, all that plus Mihailovic equals more work for the Rapids’ F.O. before it equals a season of glory.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">All that brings the discussion to the caveat lurking behind the primary caveat of “Colorado isn’t good.” <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2024/matches/porvscol-02-24-2024/stats" target="_blank">The official stats</a> be damned, Colorado should have had two goals yesterday and a third wouldn’t have been unreasonable. Both Bassett and Lewis got free headers in the heart of Portland’s 18 in the second half and with a lot of goal facing them. I know Lewis can miss anything and Bassett doesn’t hit much more, but if all this negging self-flagellation has a point it’s that: the (allegedly) lowly Rapids set up the kinds of clear-cut chances that better teams and better players will bury so deep it’s possible they’ll never be recovered. Moreover, better teams won’t spot the Timbers four first half goals and a better coach would make an in-game adjustment to keep his captain/starting right from getting repeatedly isolated in scenarios that keep ending with the ball in the back the net.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Right, enough with the fretting. It’s time to twerk, people…</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Faced with a weak/evolving team, the Timbers delivered <i>exactly</i> what fans want from their local team yesterday. Portland knocked the Rapids off-balance from the start and didn’t let them find it again until what was admittedly a second half to forget. They moved the ball quickly when they had it, sometimes just to get in rhythm, but they did it to push the game just as often. This is where <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/goal-e-williamson-vs-col-9#goal-e-williamson-vs-col-9" target="_blank">Portland’s first goal</a> comes in. The meat of that play started inside the middle of Colorado’s half and it took a lot of moving and scrapping to get a hold of the ball and keep the play alive. By the time the ball moved out to a right-sided overload between Juan David Mosquera and Santiago Moreno, all that work up the middle had Colorado’s defense over-committed all over the place and a little dazed. That left Williamson all alone when the ball rolled across the Rapids’ penalty area to a baldly exposed weak side. He still had to finish, and it wasn’t easy as he made it look, but that’s what Williamson can do when he’s at his best.</div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinag1d1SMFDcohxz1nHfbPI3Wut0jJnKwUlOVuhWc_IRrVISf7p_GfD2FyGHvB2Dx12F676neKpP2OQ-8s6t0eCpbzMmnupk-xLSDpiZfgR8IHHCMcW9vdvqisC-zfJuG3gdBweIN5f4G9ipGB2znLyvZef0jUtLtdP3qkXbPUnKJfmgNYVMvSs52jnA6w/s1296/r741861_1296x518_5-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="518" data-original-width="1296" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinag1d1SMFDcohxz1nHfbPI3Wut0jJnKwUlOVuhWc_IRrVISf7p_GfD2FyGHvB2Dx12F676neKpP2OQ-8s6t0eCpbzMmnupk-xLSDpiZfgR8IHHCMcW9vdvqisC-zfJuG3gdBweIN5f4G9ipGB2znLyvZef0jUtLtdP3qkXbPUnKJfmgNYVMvSs52jnA6w/w400-h160/r741861_1296x518_5-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>MOAR, PLZ</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">As anyone who watched last night knows, Williamson played as big a role as Antony in running up the score while the Timbers had Colorado on the ropes (the weight on those leading passes to Antony had the tender attentiveness of good foreplay) and I loved that as much as anything I saw. The way Williamson pounded the ad boards and kissed the crest after his goal told you what it meant to him and I really, <i>really</i> hope he’s whole, well and gets the run in the team that he deserves because the man has been <i>through it</i>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Paredes also deserves a towering dollop of praise. Without knowing the who, what and where of what Phil Neville sees as his ideal starting XI, I’m left taking the one he used most in preseason as the best available approximation of it for now. And, so long as he has Evander, Williamson and Chara available, that seemed to squeeze out Paredes. Well, Evander went down and Paredes stepped up and to, in my opinion, <i>very</i> good effect. Good enough, certainly, to make one wonder how one (named Phil Neville) would go about constructing the Timbers’ best available starting midfield. And I respect the hell out of Paredes for his professionalism and commitment to the team. My biggest pitch for starting Paredes starts with the question: would Portland have been able to dominate the midfield in the first half had they started Evander over Paredes? I have my answer and it just leads to some tricky questions.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">That’s it for this one. I have some further concerns – e.g., the defense didn’t get tested all that much, it didn’t always shine when it did, you can’t hand the opposition free crosses if you’re going to lose marks like that, they gave up another set-piece goal, etc. – but I’ve also left some good things unmentioned – e.g., James Pantemis is our first back-up and he did a lot of things well (flapping on Colorado’s goal, not among them) – and I found myself sincerely and repeatedly impressed with Kamal’s comfort on the ball. The Timbers got off to a dream start, without question, even if they let up more than I’d like to start the second half. Then again, isn’t the way it makes it hard to know what’s real the trouble with dream logic? Till the next one…</div>Jeff Bullhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11384922554068429807noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1394291933100545145.post-39793777984056192882024-02-19T21:10:00.000-08:002024-02-19T21:10:45.254-08:00MLS Week 1 Preview, Getting Hyped on Thin Gruel<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3hghHZt-fOjYBtmQmbOSWFSZxbjMVN4ajFJg8ZzzxUHa4T9IhkCNwUdXoW2Go5fP7RAoyLSjbADZZA7J7AFOlmhQQlGLY22CIuMVPyluU-yVOpHAMhPXAdvXtFBwlbwxsqJ3TZzx94opjaW-TEj3yq7BdAhVevyDPHWdJwWc8xFnjZmWwIcayCUK_EGeU/s1000/BLUE_EYE_SAMURAI_u_S1_E2_00_42_02_18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3hghHZt-fOjYBtmQmbOSWFSZxbjMVN4ajFJg8ZzzxUHa4T9IhkCNwUdXoW2Go5fP7RAoyLSjbADZZA7J7AFOlmhQQlGLY22CIuMVPyluU-yVOpHAMhPXAdvXtFBwlbwxsqJ3TZzx94opjaW-TEj3yq7BdAhVevyDPHWdJwWc8xFnjZmWwIcayCUK_EGeU/w400-h225/BLUE_EYE_SAMURAI_u_S1_E2_00_42_02_18.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Solid show, btw.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">At the risk of defeating the point of this post, I’m going to start by acknowledging that none of what’s below matters <i>at all</i>. By allowing <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/about/competition-guidelines" target="_blank">nine (fucking) teams</a> from each of its two conferences to qualify, Major League Soccer has made a conscious choice to devalue the regular season to a point where I wonder why anyone bothers to tune in before August. How well a team does through, say, April could be rendered meaningless by a cratering collapse or raging success in September; I can’t stress enough how much the results from MLS Week 1-20 just don’t matter. I've reached the sad place of pining for the 2024 Leagues Cup, because I think it's my first, best chance to feel anything of consequence before September. Stakes, people. They matter...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So, why do this? I mean apart from the fact that I just <i>really like</i> watching soccer?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">First and foremost, I’ve chosen this as a hobby. Second, in the same way a sword-maker sharpens the sword over and over until it can cut through trees (apparently; <i>Blue Eye Samurai</i> lays waste to trees of all sizes as if that was the point of the show), seeing MLS’s 29 teams 34 times before they arrive at games that actually matter, aka, the playoffs, gives you a pretty clear bead on which of those teams have a shot in hell at lifting MLS Cup. That number has been whittled down to, at the very most, four or even three teams over the past couple seasons, which, again, highlights just how many meaningless games are played in this league plays year after year…and yet, is that so different than what the majority of teams experience in the English Premier League every season? Hold on…maybe spectator sports writ large are the problem?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">To make this even weirder, this will be the only league-wide preview post I do all season. The current plan is to post weekly Vibez Checks at the end of each “MLS Week,” which (swear to God) will be just a loose rundown of what I saw in the games and what I see for patterns in the results. On the research side, I see myself watching two full games every week – one involving the Portland Timbers, the other involving their next opponent – long chunks (45-60 minutes’ worth) of the three games that most interest me, plus whatever else I get to after that. Unlike past seasons, I really do want to keep all this on a “vibes” level – i.e., expect the random name drop (as in, “holy shit, this guy’s killing it”) and general notes (as in, “Atlanta’s on a streak that bears watching”), as opposed to in-depth blow-by-blow coverage from this game or that or deep dives into the latest analytic stats on the market. Gods willing, people who find these posts will get a breezy read and the jokes will land.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">To the extent this post has a purpose, it’s about hyping me up for First Kick 2024. Some of the commentary doubles as soft predictions for what I expect from each team, but I’m also approaching all that from something like a headline level (and the intelligence gathered from this incomplete series). With that, let’s look at what we’ve got on the platter.</div><span><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><a name='more'></a></span><b><u><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQiGX7vQOQnjvqOAauLbBfWmq_Nc5Gn0A6hQ_plEDQ-xQZRoI-Kad5A201Mr71nJ0xkjwM-06w7iFj3BSinTkw3hwwsOmjDn4MmnB1mAxBT2egyftNjgiIrAy0NhU3Bnad79DVnDzwPZ6Wlib6hi_Av1Z8cp7Z5oZLOhjY5gXJEMOdufp4StrfkUTJPdME/s1300/159319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQiGX7vQOQnjvqOAauLbBfWmq_Nc5Gn0A6hQ_plEDQ-xQZRoI-Kad5A201Mr71nJ0xkjwM-06w7iFj3BSinTkw3hwwsOmjDn4MmnB1mAxBT2egyftNjgiIrAy0NhU3Bnad79DVnDzwPZ6Wlib6hi_Av1Z8cp7Z5oZLOhjY5gXJEMOdufp4StrfkUTJPdME/s1300/159319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1300" data-original-width="929" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQiGX7vQOQnjvqOAauLbBfWmq_Nc5Gn0A6hQ_plEDQ-xQZRoI-Kad5A201Mr71nJ0xkjwM-06w7iFj3BSinTkw3hwwsOmjDn4MmnB1mAxBT2egyftNjgiIrAy0NhU3Bnad79DVnDzwPZ6Wlib6hi_Av1Z8cp7Z5oZLOhjY5gXJEMOdufp4StrfkUTJPdME/s320/159319.jpg" width="229" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>MLS wants to </i>be<i> that trophy!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQiGX7vQOQnjvqOAauLbBfWmq_Nc5Gn0A6hQ_plEDQ-xQZRoI-Kad5A201Mr71nJ0xkjwM-06w7iFj3BSinTkw3hwwsOmjDn4MmnB1mAxBT2egyftNjgiIrAy0NhU3Bnad79DVnDzwPZ6Wlib6hi_Av1Z8cp7Z5oZLOhjY5gXJEMOdufp4StrfkUTJPdME/s1300/159319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Inter Miami CF v Real Salt Lake</u></b></div></u></b><div style="text-align: justify;">If there’s a better shorthand for the cringeworthy thirst of MLS’s Lionel Messi fan-girling than giving Miami a stand-alone game for its season opener, I don’t know what it is. And the choice to give this aging team a two-game week after dragging their asses all over the globe on a barn-storming tour that sought to squeeze every last penny out of any fan they could? I don’t know what to call that but an ode to capitalism’s shoddiest instincts. RSL is a side-show in this one, the Washington Generals to Miami’s (alleged) Harlem Globetrotters, so how can I pull for anything but a soulless, goalless draw?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Columbus Crew SC v Atlanta United FC</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">This one has promise. Last season’s (other) champs (FC Cincinnati won the Supporters’ Shield, after all) versus one of the more perennially ambitious in MLS. The result won’t matter in the long-run, but this is still three hard-won points to the team that wins it – and that would be bigger for Atlanta than Columbus, no question. Neutrals should get a good game as a bonus.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Los Angeles FC v Seattle Sounders</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">I was and wasn’t surprised to see the MLS’s collective in-house brain-trust give Seattle a better shot at winning the West than LAFC, but what is that but bulletin-board material for LA? Seattle seems more complete than the hosts at this point, which feels worth keeping in mind if the result breaks their way.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Charlotte FC v New York City FC</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">I can’t say I care about this one and that’s a little sad. This is very much a case of “make me care” for both of these teams, but I’m expecting either a narrow win for one team or the other or a goal-less draw.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>DC United v New England Revolution</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">I think this game is more important to one team than the other, only I’m not sure which team. The key point of interest is DC’s rebuild, but there’s also the Revs’ lingering ambition from their (once) record-setting 2021 season. Carles Gil won’t be around forever (though I really like Chancalay and some of the Revs' other youngsters).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><b><u><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5IgB28WUa5N56PiyoZ8_AYV-gY7_gbGMc3EdRqh0fZYMAl-KFl0U3ebreWjlgVzphCB2wcPDS6jOIzpVzFofDdtyXKtLd6zVKhc_CkKxn_b3F0oTCMbXX-fzGE_BNqod4K-q-eGBRqfkkz4pdaVwhjdQsaZOA43om4KRTrOKcD8EFsaHoyW_0rQmFhoL7/s2048/F3yN7XCbgAAZrrK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1156" data-original-width="2048" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5IgB28WUa5N56PiyoZ8_AYV-gY7_gbGMc3EdRqh0fZYMAl-KFl0U3ebreWjlgVzphCB2wcPDS6jOIzpVzFofDdtyXKtLd6zVKhc_CkKxn_b3F0oTCMbXX-fzGE_BNqod4K-q-eGBRqfkkz4pdaVwhjdQsaZOA43om4KRTrOKcD8EFsaHoyW_0rQmFhoL7/s320/F3yN7XCbgAAZrrK.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I hate this ad in a way that makes me feel sad.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Orlando City SC v Club du Foot Montreal</u></b></div></u></b><div style="text-align: justify;">Since they’re coming off a best-ever finish in 2023, this amounts to an early statement game for Orlando. Any positive Montreal gets out of this – especially with a new coach in town (Laurent Courtois) – is gravy. Again, nothing is the end of the world in Week 1, but Orlando wants to start on the right foot, surely. (And I’ll call you Shirley any time I fucking want to; this ad makes me want to kill.)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Philadelphia Union v Chicago Fire FC</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">While I can’t see anyone reading much into whatever result happens, this comes as close as a Week 1 game can get to a must-win for Philly.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Austin FC v Minnesota United FC</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">All signs point to this being a nothing game between two nothing teams, make me care, etc. On the plus side, I saw somewhere that Minnesota might actually have a permanent head coach lined up.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>FC Dallas v San Jose Earthquakes</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">Because they went bigger in the off-season, I’m mostly looking to see what Dallas does in this one. As for San Jose, I didn’t get to them in the uncompleted series mourned above, but they haven’t finished in the Top 10 of the league since 2013. They have a long road to walk to get past some form of broken.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Houston Dynamo FC v Sporting Kansas City</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">I just like this one. Results be damned, I see both teams as stubborn dark horses and obstacles for the better teams to get over in the 2024 post-season. Also, could be anything between the dourest goalless draw and a free-for-all that leaves both teams gasping. I'd like to see this blossom into a side-rivalry, honestly.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>St. Louis CITY FC v Real Salt Lake</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">Because I have them down for some form of regression, I’m calling this game show time for St. Louis. In that context, starting with anything less than a win against a long-travelling RSL team counts as a stumble, even if a semi-meaningless one.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Portland Timbers v Colorado Rapids</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">I’ll post a longer preview on reddit, but to give the short version, I’m calling this Portland’s dignity versus the Rapids fairly ambitious rebuild. As noted in <a href="https://conifersandcitrus.blogspot.com/2024/02/portland-timbers-2024-preview-hopes.html" target="_blank">the 2024 preview</a> posted elsewhere on this site, I’ve got some anxiety about how my Portland Timbers start the season. As such, I’m quietly grateful I can’t take this one in live. (Hot date with the wife; no apologies.)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>FC Cincinnati v Toronto FC</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">Doesn’t remotely fucking matter, at least not now. Cincy plays Cavalier F.C. – who based on what little I know about them are <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cavalier_F.C." target="_blank">a fuck. ing. tiny Jamaican club</a> – <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/concacaf-champions-league/2024/matches/cavalier-fcvscin-02-22-2024/" target="_blank">three days earlier</a>, so they’ve got the “but the travel” excuse in their back pocket. Very much related, the punditocracy will sing that tune in four-part harmony until Toronto has won…let’s go with 4 games out of ten, if with a healthy sprinkling of draws, and Cincy has lost…let’s go with less than 7 points from their opening six games.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Nashville SC v Red Bull New York</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">Can’t say I care, and that’s sad. A Battle Royale between two teams on the eternal grind, aka, a purgatory where joy and creativity go to die. I’m still on expecting both teams to make and ruin the playoffs.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Los Angeles Galaxy v Inter Miami CF</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">I expect every game involving Miami will be treated like the Bolshoi doing the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies until Messi coasts into a buy-three-of-my-own-islands career shilling for every marketable brand on the planet, but this game couldn’t matter less. If LA wins, everyone will say Miami was tired. If Miami wins…let’s just say I refuse to read a word of copy on that bullshit until the Galaxy gets its defense sorted out.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">That’s it for this one. See all y’all for the next <a href="https://www.theringer.com/music/2017/11/8/16615842/grunge-new-york-times-slang" target="_blank">swing on the flippity-flop</a> (i.e., the <i>New York Times</i> has been a bit of clowns-how for decades.)</div></div>Jeff Bullhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11384922554068429807noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1394291933100545145.post-34824622174689385932024-02-19T13:24:00.000-08:002024-02-21T11:12:58.688-08:00Portland Timbers 2024 Preview: Hopes, Fears & Theories<i><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgHP3fBay5XXkUSs6wh3Qr_hv3lLRXQONmjUapHwbATAlOj6UEX2JASW66CXQGXdrGPqMJ8YVz22zjCVorqacSA7Ow5hea1fhV6wONszymJLbDbqFzvEGsksvMZKuKCoaHqqGQEY4LgenCsbeXshKGAzuu37yM6vyCLW-vBxZMdReFPrxYDb44f6kc9CIG/s1619/R.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1619" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgHP3fBay5XXkUSs6wh3Qr_hv3lLRXQONmjUapHwbATAlOj6UEX2JASW66CXQGXdrGPqMJ8YVz22zjCVorqacSA7Ow5hea1fhV6wONszymJLbDbqFzvEGsksvMZKuKCoaHqqGQEY4LgenCsbeXshKGAzuu37yM6vyCLW-vBxZMdReFPrxYDb44f6kc9CIG/s320/R.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>In a better world...</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>“It’s Feb. 15 and [the Timbers] still have two open DP spots. It’s almost not even worth talking about them until they fill those spots.”</i></div></i><div style="text-align: justify;">- Sam Jones, MLS Daily Kickoff</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I hold this truth to be self-evident, and to the extent that this post won’t be so much a preview as a series of thoughts, opinions and speculation. Moreover, it starts in a place where I wish I didn’t.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">When I saw the Portland Timbers line-up for their final preseason warm-up against Chicago Fire FC, I did not feel the glitz and glamour I’ve come to expect from events in the Coachella Valley. Instead, I saw too much of the same line-up I’ve seen over two back-to-back unsuccessful seasons. Here’s the (probable) line-up for that game (I couldn’t tell because that skeazy miser, Merritt Paulson, lacks the good goddamn sense to treat preseason like the course of appetizers they are):</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">4-2-3-1</u>: James Pantemis (GK); Juan David Mosquera (RB), Zac McGraw and Kamal Miller (CBs), Eric Miller (LB); at the 2, Diego Chara paired with Eryk Williamson; at the 3, Santiago Moreno, Evander and Dairon Asprilla, and all that with a cherry on top named Felipe Mora.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Between turnover in the roster and players coming back from injury, that isn’t a name-for-name match to the line-up the Timbers trotted out, say, at the beginning of 2023. And yet, when you look at the line-up the Timbers <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2023/matches/porvsskc-02-27-2023/lineups" target="_blank">used in MLS Week 1 2023</a>, it amounts to splitting the difference between identical and fraternal twins. In the sense that I rate Mora higher than the departed Jaroslaw Niezgoda and Moreno over the bizarrely hesitant (and also departed) Yimmi Chara, sure, that counts as improvement. But how much?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The fact that Timbers line-up <a href="https://www.timbers.com/news/timbers-close-out-2024-coachella-valley-invitational-with-2-1-loss-to-chicago-fi" target="_blank">lost their final preseason game</a> to a serially terrible Chicago team injects some vibez gloom into the launch of the 2024 regular season. I don’t know of any franchise in all of sports has put in the work to alienate its fanbase the way Chicago has. Missing the playoffs in 10 of the last 11 seasons is the tip of an iceberg that could sink 100 Titanics. I don’t put any more stock into preseason than the next fan, and I understand that one of Chicago’s goals was a freak-show error that couldn’t be replicated without a live chicken and copious amounts of despair, but, as they say, still…</div><span><a name='more'></a></span><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Hc5H1hDPlCNfJmOEYiKmFcXGv7mYOKBbdWwaHSY-Q-m3yMT7wALVI-5CzVaFSodRqyFXWAoCDFZfEnrQan0eq8B23ARJpdCvpJclrKuF4oFPqjem1E0Ojxx1Gnn_F65Ao-dOIJrifWkg4LBTo8SfA1GhDoqTNHuailSAcR_jZiNsPyQ6E8Ia70674HTS/s640/20120822101007dog.webp" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="424" data-original-width="640" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Hc5H1hDPlCNfJmOEYiKmFcXGv7mYOKBbdWwaHSY-Q-m3yMT7wALVI-5CzVaFSodRqyFXWAoCDFZfEnrQan0eq8B23ARJpdCvpJclrKuF4oFPqjem1E0Ojxx1Gnn_F65Ao-dOIJrifWkg4LBTo8SfA1GhDoqTNHuailSAcR_jZiNsPyQ6E8Ia70674HTS/w400-h265/20120822101007dog.webp" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The essence of Timbers fandom, 2022-2023</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">That said, if the question of how this team exceeds its limits over the past couple seasons, the present answers are likely upgrades in defense, new head coach Phil Neville, and…pending, as in, whoever GM Ned Grabavoy finds for the two open DP slots. Before digging deeper into the biggest picture, I want to linger on Neville and what he could mean, if in the best scenario.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">On a personal level, I didn’t know how hungry I was to see <i>anything</i> change until the Timbers finally let go of Giovanni Savarese. For as long as Gio was in charge, you had the personnel and you had his tactics or – love the guy, but I have to say it – a decided lack thereof. That led to the recurring question of who (Gio) was holding what (the roster) back and that thing chased its tail through all of 2022 and most of 2023. Neville’s hiring didn’t wow anyone, and for good reason, but for all the angst and light expectation that surrounded it, it just feels…nice to think/believe/hope that Timbers fans will see something different on the field this season. On paper, putting a new person in charge seems like the cleanest, quickest way to shake up any team in any sport – beats the mess of blowing up a roster, if nothing else – so, I’m sitting here, fingers crossed, hoping that Neville can find some game-hacks in the roster that Gio missed. And yet there’s the starting line-up in that final preseason game and some tune I may have never heard called “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPP6UgkmyM4" target="_blank">Is That All There Is?</a>” playing quietly in the background…</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I’ve seen people question Neville’s pedigree and, no, I don’t have any rebuttals. I’ve also seen<a href="https://cascadiafc.substack.com/p/2024-portland-timbers-season-preview?r=25e0wy&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web" target="_blank"> one very thorough person</a> flag Inter Miami CF’s 2022 playoff run as his high-water mark as a coach (and, here, I’m acknowledging my ignorance around what he did as the coach for England’s Women’s National Team), but the best moment I saw from him came at the beginning of Miami’s 2023 season. Miami had all hands on deck and a first-choice starting defensive midfield for the first two, three games of 2023 and, from what I saw, that team looked pretty damn good. Against that, Miami’s season turned to flaming shit the second just one of those defensive midfielders went down (think it was Gregore). Put all that together and I suppose you get a coach capable of winning in the best case, but incapable of formulating a smart Plan B. We shall see, we shall see…</div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq5oO15cJrj7yYqeWuNe0umwxSqRLPeIPA8q1NIiyU-O25WvVtHyzFksnWXBBRg1g5CadqjZqIOfB3Is8IM-mlbJDpEg6yW4vShVUOLXQe8RldI19UJCjtfNIvo8v1GMHgVP__Fsz8eGHwPeZ9T0DoaHczfp6PoAKOuplvKbxujA4OOVb_1LGuyBs_qVlE/s1200/rene-higuita-scorpion-colombia.webp" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq5oO15cJrj7yYqeWuNe0umwxSqRLPeIPA8q1NIiyU-O25WvVtHyzFksnWXBBRg1g5CadqjZqIOfB3Is8IM-mlbJDpEg6yW4vShVUOLXQe8RldI19UJCjtfNIvo8v1GMHgVP__Fsz8eGHwPeZ9T0DoaHczfp6PoAKOuplvKbxujA4OOVb_1LGuyBs_qVlE/s320/rene-higuita-scorpion-colombia.webp" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Another option: entertaining!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">The conversation about the players started at the top of the post, but the Timbers did do some smart work this past off-season – e.g., the obvious steps of moving on from Yimmi and Niezgoda and beefing up/stabilizing the defense. There was also the less obvious and painful step of parting ways with Sebastian Blanco. That decision carried the weight of closing the book on the past, but it made very real sense for a team that needs to pivot to the future. The front office also pulled off a full remodel at the goalkeeper position, signing three with Maxime Crepeau as the headliner. I don’t know anything about James Pantemis or Trey Muse, but I have real expectations for Crepeau, if in the context of my weirdness about goalkeepers (i.e., I see the vast majority of goalkeepers as good enough with a handful of great goalkeepers and terrible ones on either side of it; we’ll see where Crepeau fits into that and hope he walks among the great).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Put everything together and the current Timbers team presents as one that should be harder to beat, but that (arguably) can only become a genuinely competitive team in 2024 if they hit on one or both DP signings and those come good right away. I don’t love those odds, if mainly in the near-term, and it turns out I’m not the only one. The editors at The Mothership threw links to the 2024 season previews for every team in MLS into one post (thanks, guys!), but I wanted to key in on one detail: the predictions by 17 of their in-house hacks about where each team will finish, first to fourteenth, in the West at the end of 2024. Before the big reveal, here’s where the average of all those predictions ended for every team in the West from best to worst:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Seattle Sounders: 1.4</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Los Angeles FC: 2.3</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Sporting Kansas City: 4.2</div><div style="text-align: justify;">FC Dallas: 4.9</div><div style="text-align: justify;">St. Louis CITY FC: 5.9</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Houston Dynamo FC: 6.4</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Los Angeles Galaxy: 7.4</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Real Salt Lake: 7.8</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Vancouver Whitecaps: 8</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Colorado Rapids: 11.2</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Minnesota United FC: 11.4</div><div style="text-align: justify;">San Jose Earthquakes: 11.7</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Austin FC: 13</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now for the Timbers – drum roll, please - their average placement was 9.4. In words, that translates to 10th place, aka, a third season only just on the wrong side of the playoff line. That may or may not be the reality, but it is anything but unrealistic – at least with the current roster and, as I see it, present tactics. There are some wild swings in those predictions – e.g., a Galaxy team that was worse than Portland in 2023 improving that much, St. Louis or even Houston not regressing, etc. (and choose your own adventure in there) – but I, like them, don’t see the Timbers as a team that has improved significantly when it comes to <i>winning</i> games. Things do get little weird in that Portland would have made the playoffs in 2023 had they flipped their total for losses versus draws, i.e., had they drawn 13 and lost 10, instead of the other way around – and an upgraded defense would do just that. Unfortunately, that’s a separate question from what your regular Timbers fan would like to see: the team actually competing for MLS Cup (the Supporters’ Shield ain’t happening, obviously).</div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn1ERqbm7NGwWiINAOIV66611usHYx5HITpGea3U9fJ0AyZIswI2Vc8F71NESjW3cfwNpKypW3Aa8KaZrFt_MUgQ_U-YJerQYB1-AAQOnG7kymVDY_HKxplXz6czGzqZAaxrHZHl1HODtNC5319ZRp67Ji0BYxNz_vo_4ePSRHz2rkxtFBIatEGiKi4Vhz/s979/56932228.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="605" data-original-width="979" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn1ERqbm7NGwWiINAOIV66611usHYx5HITpGea3U9fJ0AyZIswI2Vc8F71NESjW3cfwNpKypW3Aa8KaZrFt_MUgQ_U-YJerQYB1-AAQOnG7kymVDY_HKxplXz6czGzqZAaxrHZHl1HODtNC5319ZRp67Ji0BYxNz_vo_4ePSRHz2rkxtFBIatEGiKi4Vhz/s320/56932228.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Fuck it. Playoffs for everyone! Yay!!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">Signing a killer DP (or two) could change that, even decisively, given the way MLS hands out playoff spots like beads at a Mardi Gras parade. If the Timbers get over the playoff line, and if the defense actually does improve, and if the new, high-end personnel can combine with the current personnel to find a reliable path to goal, Portland could arrive at that old winning formula of peaking at playoff time. The previous sentence is drunk on “ifs,” of course, and that’s a lot of waiting around in any case. If you really want to get anxious about the season, consider the depth of the hole the Timbers would need to play out of if they repeat their traditional slow start.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Because I’m against people walking away from this post with a headful of doom, I like the idea of closing with a couple plausible things that would make the Timbers better than a 10th place team with the personnel they have on hand. Neville finding the above-mentioned game-hacks tops the list, but here are a couple more:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>1) <u>A Midfield Star (Re-)Emerges</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">If you’ve seen Williamson at his best, you have to wonder what he could do if he stays healthy and can find his best game. I don’t believe we’ve seen David Ayala’s best, but he feels like another potential wild card in the deck. If either of those players (or, dream with me, both of them) can find a way to help the Timbers find smarter, better, faster forward momentum, it would be game-changing. Adding a dimension that isn’t working overloads and crossing would add some much needed variety to an attack that genuinely needs to find more looks at goal.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>2) <u>Free Evander. Carefully.</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">For all his attributes that I like, I have all kinds of questions about Portland’s bank-breaking Brazilian, including and up to worrying that he just doesn’t mesh well (even with, gods forbid, the reported new DPs). If Neville can organize the midfield in a way that allows Evander to find his best game, and without becoming the sole source of creation, I like Portland’s chances of making the current team better.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>3) <u>A (Minor) Miracle on the Wings</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">I’ve seen different iterations of the Timbers starting line-up in different places, but I’m going to reference the one that showed up in <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/portland-timbers-2024-season-preview" target="_blank">The Mothership’s preview</a> for this point. That one has Antony and Moreno on either side of Evander at the 3 in the 4-2-3-1 – not, it bears noting, Asprilla. I’m okay with this because I see Dairon as a handful and therefore a great 60th minute sub…and that puts the present burden to make something happen on Antony’s shoulders. He showed flashes in the preseason game against New York City FC, but the team will need Antony to do that and more if they want to get a hoped-for strong start.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">That’s it for this and, obviously, that’s plenty. We’ll see where things go from here starting Saturday*. My favorite thing about the upcoming season is the little tingle of expectation I get out of having a new head coach and rumors of incoming “we’re not fucking around” DPs. Against that, there’s my greatest fear: that the Timbers will be boring to watch. Don’t know about you, but I do this for entertainment purposes. As such, I’d rather follow a collection of valiant losers than a semi-successful team that grinds out results week after week – and the possibility that the current line-up will deliver the latter has me as worried as anything about 2024.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">* I'll be watching the home opener a day late, so this'll be Sunday for me.</div>Jeff Bullhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11384922554068429807noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1394291933100545145.post-48766899865827093732024-02-10T23:08:00.000-08:002024-02-10T23:12:05.408-08:00New York City FC 1-1 Portland Timbers: Notes on a Palm Springs Scuffle<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiSHQJBWBfu6DyfaUnU7areJfVSJx1fGtqm5J4cE3T755LPq0zQ64aOq40zUsMlsYc2fIEP8N3U8SL4p7PjSmL_23jjBtkJhcZmTtaDVbIo86iAWdjFT-R9imDS-LS4i-_U2AZFHp_Xp9CyBN90EqRZg2oeBW5KL-iLG76OhmzuTheXC4xhlrS_-uc2Irt/s640/4953735466_bc6dd1528b_z.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiSHQJBWBfu6DyfaUnU7areJfVSJx1fGtqm5J4cE3T755LPq0zQ64aOq40zUsMlsYc2fIEP8N3U8SL4p7PjSmL_23jjBtkJhcZmTtaDVbIo86iAWdjFT-R9imDS-LS4i-_U2AZFHp_Xp9CyBN90EqRZg2oeBW5KL-iLG76OhmzuTheXC4xhlrS_-uc2Irt/s320/4953735466_bc6dd1528b_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Timbers ran the gauntlet today. And survived.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">Just some quick notes on the Portland Timbers <a href="https://www.timbers.com/news/timbers-draw-1-1-with-new-york-city-fc-in-first-2024-coachella-valley-invitation" target="_blank">1-1 draw versus New York City FC</a> to pass on. It’s only preseason and there’s still the regular season slog to get through after all.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">First, I have no actual complaints. The performance walked a line closer to fine than good, but it cast some glances in a brighter direction and left me with nothing more than quibbles to enter into meeting minutes. The Timbers gave NYC a hand on the ball (hey-oh!), and they got broken down all the way 10-15 minutes later (left two guys wide open at the back post, Santiago Rodriguez and Malachi Jones), but unless I missed something else in the first ten minutes of the second half (shower ran long), that’s pretty much everything from Les Pigeons.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Timbers, meanwhile, regrouped nicely after going down a goal. Better, they calmed down some problems before they turned into issues (see 1b) below). After a first half where they could only find forward momentum in wide areas and struggled a touch with getting started out of the back, Portland came out settled for the second half and got to where they could throw some weight around. When their goal came – roughly 47 minutes after NYCFC’s opener – it was more opportunistic than constructed, but, again, preseason. Stuff like that only rises to an issue if it persists...and isn’t that the worry? Still, glad Santiago Moreno made the most of his defender’s slip and god bless the NYC defense for losing Felipe Mora at the back post. Seeing the Timbers send a little more menace the opposing goal would have felt better, but it is what it is, which is one point.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">That takes care of the overview. Now, to tick through some details…</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>1) <u>Midfield, Arrangement</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">So, that was probably something like a 4-2-3-1, right? Maybe a 3-4-2-1? What I picked up (generally) was Zac McGraw, Kamal and Eric Miller holding down defense, Jaden Jones-Riley in a fairly back-to-front role on the right, Eryk Williamson and Diego Chara sitting deeper in midfield, with Moreno and Antony on either side of Evander a little ahead of them, and all that with Mora up top? Even if they lined up a little different, I didn’t mind it. I like Moreno more advanced, generally, and Antony looked more comfortable to me than he did last season. Seeing the latter did the heart good because, call me crazy, but I’d like to see the Timbers up the fear factor in opposing defenses.</div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>1a) <u>Midfield, Function</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">New York had control of the middle of the pitch for most of the first half – one thing I’d worry about with starring that midfield – to where you barely saw Evander and Williamson in the first half. The Timbers found some success up the right, at least when they could pull NYC to the opposite side, whether it was Moreno or Antony combining with Jones-Riley. They didn’t get anything out of it today, but it got the ball to a place where Portland could figure out how to finish the move. As noted above, things improved in the second half – mostly because Portland figured out how to move the ball forward centrally – and that did the soul good, too.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>1b) <u>Midfield, One Potential Issue</u></b></div></b><div><div style="text-align: justify;">This mainly came up in the first half, so it's possible Phil Neville, et al, saw the problem and adjusted to address it - which would be good! What wasn't good: the whole of Portland's midfield sometimes pushed too high when NYC was on the ball and that allowed New York to find space behind it and room to go straight at Portland's back three-to-four (it was four, more often as not; even if he didn't make every tackle, the young Jones-Riley covered the ground he had to to stay in position). No harm in this one, but that's not a habit Portland's midfield should get into - and I wonder if the choice of starters made that more likely. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>2) <u>Choices, Choices</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">I’ve gotten so used to seeing Cristhian Paredes start that I forgot he played on the team when he didn’t. I remembered David Ayala, but I’m used to seeing him not start. Then you’ve got Dario Zuparic in defense and Dairon Asprilla further up the field. I get that Asprilla has a history of coming in and out of the starting XI, but Zup's name was all but inked on the starting roster in 2023. At this point, I’m just <i>really</i> interested to see how the Timbers’ starting eleven evolves this season. It just feels like there’s a number of ways to put any eleven Timbers on the field; related, and better yet, all those viable options make me believe that most players face real competition for holding down a starting gig going into 2024. That beats the hell out of Giovanni Savarese being forced to get the most out of what he had available to start the last two to three seasons (right? something like that?).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>3) <u>Defense</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">It was fine. If Maxime Crepeau had to make a save, never mind stretch for one, I either didn’t see it or it didn’t stick with me.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>4) <u>Mora</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">I don’t think he has competition for his position and, as much as I love Mora (which, here, means I dig what he does and root for him as hard as any player), I believe he needs it. More to the point, I’d like to see the Timbers have different looks/options to throw at opposing defenses.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">That’s it for this one on this channel. Here’s to hoping some benevolent soul lines up streams for the next two preseason games (February 14 v San Jose Earthquakes and February 17 v Chicago Fire FC). Till the next broadcast….</div></div>Jeff Bullhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11384922554068429807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1394291933100545145.post-57231234265651030702024-02-08T21:58:00.000-08:002024-02-08T21:58:57.533-08:00Getting Reacquainted with Inter Miami CF: The Nouveau Riche or The Expendables?<i><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFMwM58lS5YOsSufub05hEOY9mxFT-aXReWwhfI_8sQwCNI8cV8oDJRfNKFvCtAKd2z-lz_Ys82tPnAvZ8Drme5rB4z3fTUftDtp5cjE_CZc4LG5GBLX0K7zcx2OFqGZVgIquozctM-hOXaBV9x-n2zMrOU28Qkt_KtVSdWkzNzgNNEONC9u-YR4Zq-Ba6/s1920/1_IfNAwjXTXfWaU1O2Fv63Fw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1066" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFMwM58lS5YOsSufub05hEOY9mxFT-aXReWwhfI_8sQwCNI8cV8oDJRfNKFvCtAKd2z-lz_Ys82tPnAvZ8Drme5rB4z3fTUftDtp5cjE_CZc4LG5GBLX0K7zcx2OFqGZVgIquozctM-hOXaBV9x-n2zMrOU28Qkt_KtVSdWkzNzgNNEONC9u-YR4Zq-Ba6/w223-h400/1_IfNAwjXTXfWaU1O2Fv63Fw.jpg" width="223" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Not shit. I just love the painting.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>[<u>Standing Disclaimer</u>: While I have watched…just a stupid amount of MLS over the years, I don’t watch the vast majority of games, never mind all of them. As such, it’s fair to take anything below that isn’t a hard number or a physical trophy as an impression, a couple steps removed.]</i></div></i><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Thumbnail History</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">I came <i>this</i> close to lumping the Miami Fusion into this post. They joined in the same pre-contraction expansion as the Chicago Fire, only, when contraction did come after the 2002 season, the league opted to keep Chicago and cut Florida loose…which continues to be a temptation, of course. I decided against for one obvious reason: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All-time_Miami_Fusion_roster" target="_blank">the 1998-2002 team</a> doesn’t have so much as a sparkle of the glitz and glamour of Inter Miami CF. The temptation lingered for a while, due mostly the fact that MLS legends like Kyle Beckerman, Pablo Mastroeni, Nick Rimando and (pushing it here) Jay Heaps, but the Fusion really did play and thrive in a totally different league…</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">…and yet, is that so different than the gap that separates Inter Miami’s MLS 4.0(?) Year and the Messi marketing cash-grab that so recently <a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/39480612/lionel-messi-miami-questions-hong-kong-government" target="_blank">pissed off Hong Kong fans</a>? My short response is no and yes, and in that order. The 2020 team went <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/mls-announces-sanctions-for-inter-miami-violating-salary-budget-and-roster-guide" target="_blank">so rules-breaking big</a> on its first roster-build that it forced the league to sanction it for playing a shell-game in terms of roster compliance. Miami still made the 2020 playoffs, but that comes with a couple caveats – e.g., the playoff pool was out-of-control-house-party big that season (because COVID) and the sanctions arguably derailed Miami’s 2021 season. They rode the death-rattle of Gonzalo Higuain’s career to get back to the playoffs in 2022 and I briefly became obsessed with Miami at the beginning of 2023 when they started strong on the back of sterling midfield performances from Gregore and Jean Mota. Gregore went down for most (if not all) of the season by the third game and Mota succumbed to an injury of his own somewhere around the 10th game, all of which caused Miami’s cruel summer to arrive ahead of schedule. Two months of eating shit followed: they went winless from the middle of May to the middle July, losing eight games of 11 and looking very, very doomed. And then came the Leagues Cup. And the arrival of Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, and…Robert Taylor. That all-star cast and a new director (they bumped now-Portland Timbers head coach, Phil Neville, for Tata Martino) lead them to the inaugural Leagues Cup title. They could not, however, climb out of the hole the former team dug over those two months of eating shit…well, that and the six-game losing streak that happened earlier that season after Gregore’s injury threw Plan A into chaos.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Best Season(s)</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">I’m calling it a toss-up. I imagine that winning the Leagues Cup was nice and all, but failing to make the 2023 playoffs must have been like chasing a shot of delicious Jameson with something disgusting and fucking weird like pickle juice (just…don’t). Given that, I’m going with Gonzalo Higuain’s rousing curtain-call at the end of 2022. Just feels more heroic.</div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Long-Term Tendencies</u></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">They haven't been around long enough to have tendencies, never mind long-term ones, and yet there’s this: Miami has under-performed on the attacking side every season of their existence – sometimes woefully and, yes, that very much applied to the first two-thirds of 2023 – and they’ve barely been better in defense. Didn’t see that coming, really…</div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; font-weight: bold; text-decoration-line: underline;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkeFpXUdl7-DBBTdShsBH8iLwClO_hVd_1jh6SVvEDX2YTJOvsSFQKDuuVo6yYeafe5zVHFvXHhqJHgyGFjd8tu-2Wdqn7YpMl5NhWFMt4LS162-FFd_2CLUj6f-7ZFtBL5MVzK_lzXviQC3hA3ffo56LVjNHfmO8myUneTzN47EBxxRAu_eQJYp9mCNHf/s1296/the_expendables_3.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="730" data-original-width="1296" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkeFpXUdl7-DBBTdShsBH8iLwClO_hVd_1jh6SVvEDX2YTJOvsSFQKDuuVo6yYeafe5zVHFvXHhqJHgyGFjd8tu-2Wdqn7YpMl5NhWFMt4LS162-FFd_2CLUj6f-7ZFtBL5MVzK_lzXviQC3hA3ffo56LVjNHfmO8myUneTzN47EBxxRAu_eQJYp9mCNHf/w400-h225/the_expendables_3.webp" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Just acknowledging the risks...</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration-line: underline;"><u>Identity</u></b><u>:</u> The Nouveau Riche. That or The Expendables. <i>[Ed. – see the Notes/Impressions on the Current Roster/State of Ambition section below.]</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: bold;"><u>Joy Points</u></b>: 0, i.e., they broke even, much like Charlotte FC. Think there's a lesson in there, fwiw.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: bold;"><u>A Half Dozen Names to Know</u></b> <i>[Ed. – Nah]</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Despite coming up with a plausible short-list – one that included all-time leading scorers Leonardo Campana and Gonzalo Higuain, and semi-notable flops like Rodolfo Pizarro (their first big playmaking gamble) and Matias Pelligrini (their first attempt at drafting the next big thing) – I decided that Miami 1) hasn’t been around long enough, 2) has changed so much over that short time, and, mostly importantly, 3) hasn’t actually accomplished all that much. One curiosity to point out: if you pull up <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Inter_Miami_CF_players" target="_blank">Inter Miami CF’s all-time roster</a> and sort the “Goals” column you’ll see a fucking cliff after Gonzalo Higuain and Campana. (Also, to anyone wondering why I keep typing Gonzalo Higuain’s full name, it’s because Federico Higuain played with them for the first two seasons.)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Where They Finished in 2023 & What the Past Says About That, If Anything</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">27th overall, nine points below the Eastern Conference playoff line and, if memory serves, with Messi on the bench for large parts of it. As much as he did for Miami in the Leagues Cup, the GOAT has scored just one goal for Miami in regular season play so far. I respect and admire Messi as much as the next fan (though probably not enough to kick the head off a cardboard cut out of him if he failed to show up for a game I paid for), but it would still be absolutely hysterical if he flopped in fucking MLS, of all leagues. Knowing just how much that would make Don Garber die inside would be its own reward.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Notes/Impressions on the Current Roster/State of Ambition</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">It is almost impossible to fully describe the combined state of optimism and fear around this team – and one would have to come up with entirely new adjective because “ambitious” simply doesn’t cut it. Before I cut against the fairly-logical grain, before I cast aspersions on the belief that Miami is destined to win one or more trophies in 2024 – a belief that sometimes reads like Pravda at peak Soviet confidence – I want to acknowledge the following:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">1) There are some very good non-marquee players <a href="https://www.intermiamicf.com/club/roster" target="_blank">on this team</a> – e.g., Taylor, goalkeeper Drake Callender (who I'd give a kidney to have Portland sign), Gregore and Mota, for as long as both stay healthy, and I though Sergii Kryvstov looked credible enough, etc.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">2) Messi really is a global, generational talent and, while he’s definitely getting up there in years, and all the travel and turf will surely take it out of him, I have watched Diego Chara out-run Father Time for – what? – four years now? Maybe five? Moreover, being a Timber means Chara has played over half those countless games on turf. Maybe the knocks at the end of 2023 and his sputtering start to 2024 won’t matter in the long-run. Moreover, MLS’s (overly) generous playoff format gives Miami every reason to play Messi strategically and to limit his minutes. And I want to make one very important point here: when they do, don’t blame Messi, because he’s not the asshole in this scenario. Blame the local ticket-merchant monopoly for plundering your wallet when Miami comes to town, because that’s on those vampires, not him.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">3) It’s not like Busquets, Alba, Campana, Luis Suarez, Callender, Gregore, and, hell, DeAndre Yedlin and the newly-signed Julian Gressel are trash.</div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOFJz9cmEMV307Zi9u-MSAexfVV2bEdG9rjfDTe9SnylNK_DLL7RPyo68AnT_SwATxRABppfpXjxd6z2HtPWPXSjRsGS-6jwmcbYi0ASlNngX75USywwoHBl-tbTRB_abceWF2qdnUpkDrpTCK2JFZCiOth_HTQnTNFyKlMwJJUIGDz6C8d2B0rh6dvcSx/s383/Don_McLean_in_Gateshead_UK_May_2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="383" data-original-width="383" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOFJz9cmEMV307Zi9u-MSAexfVV2bEdG9rjfDTe9SnylNK_DLL7RPyo68AnT_SwATxRABppfpXjxd6z2HtPWPXSjRsGS-6jwmcbYi0ASlNngX75USywwoHBl-tbTRB_abceWF2qdnUpkDrpTCK2JFZCiOth_HTQnTNFyKlMwJJUIGDz6C8d2B0rh6dvcSx/s320/Don_McLean_in_Gateshead_UK_May_2018.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>He gets it...</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">Bottom-line, I don’t know what’s going to happen with Miami in 2024. What I am saying – scratch that, what I am arguing – the decision to lean on older players <i>always</i> comes with risks. Moreover, MLS’s regular season is <i>stupid fucking</i> long, Miami always had more than its share of "bonus competitions," and the league is already whipping this team all over the goddamn globe in the spirit of one of those old rock-‘n’-roll package tours that killed Buddy Holly, Big Bopper and Richie Valens. I, like you, will be stunned if Miami doesn’t make the 2024 playoffs. I might laugh harder if they do, but that’s just how I do. I'll be less stunned if they exit 2024 without at least one trophy to call their own, but the over-arching argument boils down to the simple fact that I’m more dubious about this whole project than most people seem to be.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>* Joy Point Index</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">Winning the CONCACAF Champions’ League: 5 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Claiming Supporters’ Shield : 4 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Winning MLS Cup: 3 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">MLS Cup Runner-Up: 2 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Winning the U.S. Open Cup: 2 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Winning CONCACAF Champions Cup: 2 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">MLS Is Back Cup: 2 points (yeah, yeah, I’m a Timbers fan; still, that was a tough one)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">CONCACAF Champions League Semifinalist: 1 point</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Making the Playoffs: 1 point</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Missing the Playoffs: -1 point</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Missing Playoffs in 1996-97, 2002-2004 (when 80% of the league qualified): - 2 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Wooden Spoon: -3 points</div>Jeff Bullhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11384922554068429807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1394291933100545145.post-62989043891999533332024-02-06T21:34:00.000-08:002024-02-06T21:44:33.378-08:00Getting Reacquainted with Charlotte FC, aka, What a (Stupid) Rule Change Has Wrought<i><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUV12HKKArd_qMBwxP-LObUrot5Co09JI05FCr-GP4MDNX42vcBE3qU-o-t4bN5hoZNluZIg7AkY3rx6n96w0rRsWbNwxsLr_Aw7R273yVIT9QvPND-J0e9eH86HzI_pMVQnKcJ5Sb5doqwDkikVSQUz3HryQMmPBwOVoLN73zPnMXpOip4ta-PVZcBdM7/s800/SL-0514-surplus-10.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="555" data-original-width="800" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUV12HKKArd_qMBwxP-LObUrot5Co09JI05FCr-GP4MDNX42vcBE3qU-o-t4bN5hoZNluZIg7AkY3rx6n96w0rRsWbNwxsLr_Aw7R273yVIT9QvPND-J0e9eH86HzI_pMVQnKcJ5Sb5doqwDkikVSQUz3HryQMmPBwOVoLN73zPnMXpOip4ta-PVZcBdM7/w400-h278/SL-0514-surplus-10.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Aww, cute! (But also </i>profoundly<i> embarrassing.)</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>[<u>Standing Disclaimer</u>: While I have watched…just a stupid amount of MLS over the years, I don’t watch the vast majority of games, never mind all of them. As such, it’s fair to take anything below that isn’t a hard number or a physical trophy as an impression, a couple steps removed.]</i></div></i><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Thumbnail History</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">Charlotte FC joined the league in 2022. They missed the playoffs that season, but made them in 2023. After that, I have a nasty habit of picturing them as a team wholly composed of Brandt Bronicos. Oh yeah, and they lured Bill Tuiloma from my Portland Timbers and I was always something of an overzealous Tuiloma stan. He and I are both thankful that I never figured out where he lived while he was with Portland…</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Best Season(s)/”Long-Term” Tendencies</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">2023, if with a Derringer’s bullet. The only difference I found between 2022 and 2023 was the fact that they scored one goal less in 2022 – i.e., 44 versus 45 in 2023. That’s literally it. Charlotte allowed the same number of goals both seasons (52) and finished 19th overall in both seasons. In other words, they fielded an <i>utterly</i> middling team in both 2022 and 2023, <i>but</i>, because MLS expanded the number of teams that qualified for the playoffs from a (half-)sensible 14 in 2022 to a comically expansive 18 in 2023, Charlotte cleared the lowered bar. Hold on, it gets better. Their defense actually performed worse against the goals allowed average in 2023, when the average for goals on both ends was 46.8, than it did in 2022, when that same average was 50.3.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Why’d MLS do it? I’m guessing they knew Messi was coming, so they lowered the bar for making the playoffs a little. Sure, that reads like a conspiracy theory, but, GODS, that’s an embarrassing thing to do in any case. To repeat the question that gets asked every fucking season, why does MLS bother with a regular season? Why do any of us? Worse, it's not like this did Charlotte any favors, who <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_MLS_Cup_Playoffs#Eastern_Conference" target="_blank">got slaughtered</a> in the pointless play-in round.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: bold;"><u>Identity</u></b>: Meh, almost distilled meh.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: bold;"><u>Joy Points</u></b>: 0, which feels entirely and depressingly apt.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><i><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>[Ed. – There is no point to a “names to know” section on a team entering its third season…]</i></div><span><a name='more'></a></span> </i><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Where They Finished in 2023 & What the Past Says About That, If Anything</u></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Covered above: they finished 19th because that seems to be what they do.</div><br /><b><u><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtYUBN4bonE9ysxrxIPf4a-QCDD7Rs-R4sm8Nnv1twoU-sTF-1TzU00A9aBuCmJ7uyaMATwt4gTNsyrNbMq_eZfJPEGmVBABZ5V_BW839yA9wbh_njar9u50bC7q7rX09VGycElEh4QJnibZnQln_v0x_EoGkJd-WsgRXGCEmdmoyiAh-6c6MsWV7rn6xd/s800/absent-father-2.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtYUBN4bonE9ysxrxIPf4a-QCDD7Rs-R4sm8Nnv1twoU-sTF-1TzU00A9aBuCmJ7uyaMATwt4gTNsyrNbMq_eZfJPEGmVBABZ5V_BW839yA9wbh_njar9u50bC7q7rX09VGycElEh4QJnibZnQln_v0x_EoGkJd-WsgRXGCEmdmoyiAh-6c6MsWV7rn6xd/s320/absent-father-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Started, going...continuing?</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Notes/Impressions on the Current Roster/State of Ambition</u></b></div></u></b><div style="text-align: justify;">I was reminded today that The Mothership (aka, MLSSoccer.com) never updates its goddamn roster pages - something that really makes one wonder why anyone bothers with unpaid interns – so I’m going to start (belatedly) leaning into Matt Doyle’s roster/depth chart updates as I wrap up this project. As noted in <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/where-mls-eastern-conference-depth-charts-rosters-stand-for-2024" target="_blank">his latest Eastern Conference update</a>, Charlotte moved from Vinicius Mello (aka, who?), left Harrison Afful and Derrick Jones free to pursue fresh opportunities, and finally swallowed the presumable loss on Polish midfielder Kamil Jozwiak, who fell short of what one would expect from a DP, if perhaps not to the extent Doyle (arguably) obsessed over. The team also appeared to miss on a big signing, and there’s a potential d-mid signing lingering in the wings, <i>but</i>, because I don’t see the point in evaluating players until they actually turn up, all that should be treated as a counter-factual till further notice. Now, as for the roster Charlotte actually has, it looks like they’re still relying on Karol Swiderski to pull quadruple shifts as midfielder/forward/winger/distant father and hoping big, splashy signing Enzo Copetti comes better one hell of a lot better <a href="https://www.charlottefootballclub.com/players/enzo-copetti/stats/" target="_blank">than he did in 2023</a>. I don’t want to characterize the roster as effectively anonymous from there…but at the same time results are results and nothing that I’m seeing on Charlotte’s <a href="https://www.charlottefootballclub.com/roster/" target="_blank">current (if unamended) roster</a> leads me to expect they’ll go anywhere without actually landing some of the signings they’ve attempted. And yet, it’s pretty clear the ambition is there. Regardless of what happened with Jozwiak, his signing showed ambition. So did Copetti's. Hell, they even went stupidly large on Tuiloma (i.e., the Timbers F.O. would have been some combination of stoned, irrational, and generous as St. Francis to turn down what Charlotte offered for him). Based on what I’ve seen so far, the team Charlotte reminds me of most is Orlando, i.e., a team that kept throwing around cash until the right player picked it up. So, yeah, we’ll see where things go…and if they finish 19th and make the playoffs again…<i>swear to GOD</i>…</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>* Joy Point Index</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">Winning the CONCACAF Champions’ League: 5 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Claiming Supporters’ Shield : 4 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Winning MLS Cup: 3 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">MLS Cup Runner-Up: 2 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Winning the U.S. Open Cup: 2 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Winning CONCACAF Champions Cup: 2 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">MLS Is Back Cup: 2 points (yeah, yeah, I’m a Timbers fan; still, that was a tough one)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">CONCACAF Champions League Semifinalist: 1 point</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Making the Playoffs: 1 point</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Missing the Playoffs: -1 point</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Missing Playoffs in 1996-97, 2002-2004 (when 80% of the league qualified): - 2 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Wooden Spoon: -3 points</div>Jeff Bullhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11384922554068429807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1394291933100545145.post-29210245766510736742024-02-04T21:43:00.000-08:002024-02-04T21:45:26.362-08:00Getting Reacquainted with St. Louis CITY FC, the Humiliation of Fatherhood<i><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFr2SC2qqUsxpXpIoKQk4ebQLDiGMB4og3qFhoILaEptWNXoyNEVVpjXbj6wooCoiW3BBJwjMZOq9I-LqmbBQ62l9WGcfGthKxOlG6Qi1N_TAHznF1cT4788kv4EgE2QplwKJco-FCj9RBnBbFL_mgSyoHP-8cZs9bM_-F6JBsIVYbX2gF5XWFGdgecOZT/s735/player_parent_sunset.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="414" data-original-width="735" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFr2SC2qqUsxpXpIoKQk4ebQLDiGMB4og3qFhoILaEptWNXoyNEVVpjXbj6wooCoiW3BBJwjMZOq9I-LqmbBQ62l9WGcfGthKxOlG6Qi1N_TAHznF1cT4788kv4EgE2QplwKJco-FCj9RBnBbFL_mgSyoHP-8cZs9bM_-F6JBsIVYbX2gF5XWFGdgecOZT/w400-h225/player_parent_sunset.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Keep talking motherfucker. Day's coming...</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>[<u>Standing Disclaimer</u>: While I have watched…just a stupid amount of MLS over the years, I don’t watch the vast majority of games, never mind all of them. As such, it’s fair to take anything below that isn’t a hard number or a physical trophy as an impression, a couple steps removed.]</i></div></i><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Thumbnail History</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">They came, they saw, they straight-up rolled some teams – including five straight to start the season. Hell, St. Louis CITY FC even rolled Sporting Kansas City 4-1 at home all the way at Week 32 of the season. The fact the same team that put them to the sword over <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_MLS_Cup_Playoffs#Western_Conference_2" target="_blank">a lopsided two-leg series</a> in the first round of the 2023 MLS playoffs sums up St. Louis short-‘n’-sweet history in MLS: impressive, but visibly incomplete.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Best Season</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">I feel good saying 2023…</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Long-Term Tendencies</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">They went wildly over the median on goals scored – i.e., 62 scored versus the 46.8 average – and, as well as the defense did, it seized failure with both hands often as not. Almost certainly related, St. Louis played an aggressive press, aka, one of soccer’s great “yes/no” propositions, there is no try, only do, etc.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Identity</u></b><span style="font-weight: normal;">: Your son beating you at a sport for the first time.</span></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Joy Points</u></b><span style="font-weight: normal;">: 1, because making the playoffs in your one and only season makes your history brighter than eight other teams. (Also, index for how these work is below*.)</span></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">[<i>Ed. – There is no point to a “names to know” section on a team entering its second season…]</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Where They Finished in 2023 & What the Past Says About That, If Anything</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">First in the Western Conference and a genuinely impressive fourth overall. To be completely frank, I did not like this team from the jump and wanted them to fail – mostly because I hate pressing teams. Shit’s ugly. Going the other way, they effectively ambushed the six of the first eight teams they played and staked them to 18 fast points early in the season. And yet, and to their very real credit, St. Louis picked up a healthy share of wins throughout the season. I won’t pretend I don’t think they’ve been found out, but they had a great season for any team, never an expansion team.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Notes/Impressions on <a href="https://www.stlcitysc.com/roster/" target="_blank">the Current Roster</a>/State of Ambition</b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">I don’t know enough to comment on the St. Louis front office’s state of ambition beyond acknowledging they did pretty damn all right in Year One. Even with the occasionally useful Niko Gioacchini and the infatigable (and pissy) Jared Stroud moved on to new and exciting professional opportunities, St. Louis comes in to 2024 with a good core. Having 2023’s goalkeeper of the year and MLS vet Tim Parker to organize the defense looks like a sound foundation to me and, so long as you have that and a competent midfield, all it takes to get your local team close to competitive is a couple smart attacking pieces. They seem to have those in Eduard Lowen and Joao Klauss, so long as he can stay fit. My best guess puts this team at playoff-competitive in 2024; add some talent – I hear they have an open DP spot- and they could make some actual noise in MLS’s Western Conference…that said, I’m still waiting for this team to get found out. The way they could go either way feels like a big deal for 2024.</div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>* Joy Point Index</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">Winning the CONCACAF Champions’ League: 5 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Claiming Supporters’ Shield : 4 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Winning MLS Cup: 3 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">MLS Cup Runner-Up: 2 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Winning the U.S. Open Cup: 2 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Winning CONCACAF Champions Cup: 2 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">MLS Is Back Cup: 2 points (yeah, yeah, I’m a Timbers fan; still, that was a tough one)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">CONCACAF Champions League Semifinalist: 1 point</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Making the Playoffs: 1 point</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Missing the Playoffs: -1 point</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Missing Playoffs in 1996-97, 2002-2004 (when 80% of the league qualified): - 2 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Wooden Spoon: -3 points</div>Jeff Bullhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11384922554068429807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1394291933100545145.post-45846679514672796942024-02-04T14:31:00.000-08:002024-02-04T14:31:54.556-08:00Getting Reacquainted with Orlando City SC, an Erratic Rising Power(?)<i><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQzuSooDVZ56G7MwmH2BEeUs6asPF5CmXzgKuey9mAtuT9mO_8JGBKcohInVbXUu4eBKjmlXH2t1btrcyzjNUluTwiIT4ITKKGAj3lKtM8VnsM3_YYFIo3amX8KRKm7TjLdOTzeY_5Y9Og9fQvli22v8EYejzHvQIfNGZ0NmGSuhECs9k2jEATzvoCaHR2/s824/x7sbmqfcnagxvgnnkfpl.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="464" data-original-width="824" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQzuSooDVZ56G7MwmH2BEeUs6asPF5CmXzgKuey9mAtuT9mO_8JGBKcohInVbXUu4eBKjmlXH2t1btrcyzjNUluTwiIT4ITKKGAj3lKtM8VnsM3_YYFIo3amX8KRKm7TjLdOTzeY_5Y9Og9fQvli22v8EYejzHvQIfNGZ0NmGSuhECs9k2jEATzvoCaHR2/w400-h225/x7sbmqfcnagxvgnnkfpl.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Plan A, Part II.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>[<u>Standing Disclaimer</u>: While I have watched…just a stupid amount of MLS over the years, I don’t watch the vast majority of games, never mind all of them. As such, it’s fair to take anything below that isn’t a hard number or a physical trophy as an impression, a couple steps removed.]</i></div></i><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Thumbnail History</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">Orlando City SC’s history follows the traditional expansion team narrative of eating shit for several seasons before finding their feet and running with the rest of the league. Ever the ambitious organization, they strived mightily to avoid that fate – e.g., they signed (aging) Brazilian great Kaka on joining MLS in 2015 and, after he moved on, they tried again by signing (aging) Portuguese great Nani in 2019. MLS broadcasters dutifully hyped both players, but Kaka never carried them to the playoffs and Nani would burn one season he could barely afford to (because old) before Orlando provided the supporting cast to get them there. On that last piece, it wasn’t for lack of trying: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All-time_Orlando_City_SC_(MLS)_roster" target="_blank">Orlando’s all-time roster</a> (one of the good ones, btw) amounts to a casting call of the good, the great and the reliable from teams all over MLS, maybe even yours. Unfortunately, few of them lasted long and even fewer of them delivered the goods. Orlando’s turning point came in the Weird Year, aka, 2020, aka, the COVID season, when they not only made the playoffs for the first time, but also reached their first final, the MLS Is Back tournament (won by my Portland Timbers!). Tempting as it is to argue that Orlando enjoyed homefield advantage throughout the tournament, it's not like they had fans cheering them on, because no one did. What’s more, they argued against 20202 as a fluke where it counts, i.e., on the field: Orlando have qualified for the playoffs every season since. They didn’t always hit them in the best form – e.g., see 10th and 13th place finishes in 2021 and 2022, respectively – but they have 1) found (a form of) consistency, and 2) just wrapped up their best-ever regular season in 2023, finishing second overall and pushing eventual champs (and damn good team) Columbus Crew SC to extra-time in the Eastern Conference semifinals.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Best Season(s)</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">Didn’t mention that they won the 2022 U.S. Open Cup in the above, but I’m still calling 2023 Orlando’s best.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Long-Term Tendencies</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">Nothing that counts as a pattern, really, at least not beyond having good seasons every time they’ve posted good numbers at both ends of the field – i.e., 2020 and 2023 (also, duh). That said, their defense either killed them or fucking killed them over the first four seasons (2015-2018). It has improved since, but stout defenses are hardly their calling card. The attack yo-yos just as much, all of which is a long way of stating that Orlando puts it all together only now and then, but still more recently than they used to.</div><span><a name='more'></a></span> <br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; font-weight: bold; text-decoration-line: underline;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZsHTesDikLLXk3YvC2sM6VFOUmIfieAelkjZ0OXVuVQXXmfOrfFXp9bvB04GmL7mGW-NRtcR7KVfScw8rRdqDvtpUGKr9r2rVAGb-IN-FCXrJ6dibo-_MsbCAqwvJnAzaGZMoLJjW3hSYyNjDUqwVp2a4sYFX3NP5mZ-ZjSv68RQSZ36JjlNpS0QpL1Eu/s2133/4rwb4DGG2ME26n6L4JS3AK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="2133" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZsHTesDikLLXk3YvC2sM6VFOUmIfieAelkjZ0OXVuVQXXmfOrfFXp9bvB04GmL7mGW-NRtcR7KVfScw8rRdqDvtpUGKr9r2rVAGb-IN-FCXrJ6dibo-_MsbCAqwvJnAzaGZMoLJjW3hSYyNjDUqwVp2a4sYFX3NP5mZ-ZjSv68RQSZ36JjlNpS0QpL1Eu/w400-h225/4rwb4DGG2ME26n6L4JS3AK.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Is the ceiling, like, even real, man?</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration-line: underline;"><u>Identity</u></b>: Shoot for the stars, hit the ceiling for a few…</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: bold;"><u>Joy Points</u></b>: 1. And they’re only in the positives because they won that one Open Cup. (Index below*)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>A Half Dozen Names to Know</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Kaka/Nani</u> (2015-2017 and 2019-2021, respectively)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Orlando has never been shy about throwing around cash to make a splash, but they started with the “Aging Star Retirement League” model for some reason – which has its limits. In fairness, both players did produce – and to the tune of ranking fourth and second, respectively, for all-time goals scored for Orlando - but a luxury player is a luxury player.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><u><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>Cyle Larin(/Daryl Dike/Duncan McGuire</u> (in order, 2015-2017, 2020-2021, and 2023-present)</div></u><div style="text-align: justify;">One weird thing Orlando steadily excelled at: finding great young forwards in the MLS SuperDraft. Larin’s the original model and he remains their all-time leading goal scorer at 44 goals over 89 games (damn, son!). Dike scored at a similar pace (19 goals over 41) and you have to think he would have kept pace with Larin had he stuck around. Duncan, meanwhile, found the net 15 times in his rookie season. That’s just crazy luck (or smart scouting) for a seven-year-old team.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><u><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>Mauricio Pereyra</u> (2019-2023)</div></u><div style="text-align: justify;">Huh. Just found out that Pereyra went back to his native Uruguay at the end of 2023. Anyhoo, he always struck me as a weird-duck of a player - i.e., a guy who wore the No. 10 shirt, but played a little deeper and fell a little short on “wow!” (<a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/mauricio-pereyra/stats/" target="_blank">decent numbers</a>, tho, especially assists) – but he also felt like Orlando’s first smart and <i>practical</i> signing in terms of actually building an attack.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><u><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>Pedro Gallese</u> (2020-present)</div></u><div style="text-align: justify;">Love this goalkeeper. Hell of a shot-stopper and just a great all-around presence in the nets. I count him among the reasons Orlando manages to produce strong defenses now and then.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><u><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>Junior Urso</u> (2020-2022, 2023)</div></u><div style="text-align: justify;">Consider Robin Jansson an honorable mention here (though he arrived a season earlier), but, like Gallese, Urso arrived the same season Orlando got its shit straight in defense. I don’t believe this to be a coincidence. Urso didn’t do it alone, but teams tend to do better when they mind this part of the pitch. The Brazilian was a good, rangy and tenacious player (looks like he moved on too).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><u><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>Facundo Torres</u> (2022-present)</div></u><div style="text-align: justify;">Torres has a ways to go before he catches up with Larin <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/facundo-torres/stats/" target="_blank">on goals scored</a> – and he may move on before he does - but I still count him as the best and highest-upside signing Orlando has made to date. Talented, technical and able to do all the things at the sharp end of the attack – and just 23 to boot. It’d be cool if Orlando can hold onto him for another couple seasons.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Where They Finished in 2023 & What the Past Says About That, If Anything</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">Already noted above, but Orlando finished second overall, six points behind Supporters’ Shield winners FC Cincinnati. They went comfortably over the average for goals scored and just as comfortably under on goals allowed and they picked up almost as many points on the road as they did at home. Just an all-round impressive season and, honestly, a promising sign for the organization. Seems like they're learning...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Notes/Impressions on the Current Roster/State of Ambition</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">I see that McGuire’s <a href="https://www.orlandocitysc.com/news/orlando-city-sc-loan-forward-duncan-mcguire-to-blackburn-efl-championship" target="_blank">going on loan</a> (with an option to buy) to Blackburn Rovers, so that’s somewhere around 15 goals Orlando will need to replace. They still have plenty of weapons on-hand – e.g., Torres, but there’s also the DP Martin Ojeda, the freshly-signed (if aging) Nico Lodeiro (who’s not on <a href="https://www.orlandocitysc.com/roster/" target="_blank">the damn roster?</a>), and I’ve heard talk of real upside for Ivan Angulo – but I’m guessing even those guys would appreciate a focal point for the attack. With Jansson still around, Rodrigo Schlegel beside him, and Gallese still behind, the starting heart of the defense still looks sound and I think they’ve got a decent corps of fullbacks available. I have this vague sense that Wilder Cartagena and Cesar Araujo provide enough in central midfield, but that’s more vibez than knowledge. All in all, Orlando still presents as a strong team, at least when they’ve got all starters on-hand – and I really like the (broadly) youthful roster. For what it’s worth, the Armchair Analyst guy <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/where-mls-eastern-conference-depth-charts-rosters-stand-for-2024" target="_blank">knows more about the holes</a> than I do – e.g., he’s less comfortable with Schlegel – but I expect to see them in the playoff mix, maybe even within earshot of conversations about MLS Cup if they can find a replacement for McGuire.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>* Joy Point Index</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">Winning the CONCACAF Champions’ League: 5 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Claiming Supporters’ Shield : 4 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Winning MLS Cup: 3 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">MLS Cup Runner-Up: 2 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Winning the U.S. Open Cup: 2 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Winning CONCACAF Champions Cup: 2 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">MLS Is Back Cup: 2 points (yeah, yeah, I’m a Timbers fan; still, that was a tough one)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">CONCACAF Champions League Semifinalist: 1 point</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Making the Playoffs: 1 point</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Missing the Playoffs: -1 point</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Missing Playoffs in 1996-97, 2002-2004 (when 80% of the league qualified): - 2 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Wooden Spoon: -3 points</div>Jeff Bullhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11384922554068429807noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1394291933100545145.post-68664130453952968132024-02-01T22:20:00.000-08:002024-02-01T22:20:03.308-08:00Getting Reacquainted with Minnesota United FC...<i><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgags2JB00G3E3iLG7Qj4zljCpYEKLpZ7cOI7F1XqMYjeH16tJPZ-QT4opKhNqHupojknfF98KQ6xl1B5uj2uL7_eSFzEYJE767EYQKNp-XU9BqLuCIWuInGpd2rP-jAfq6v-tI_N4AGCiVxvcGm3oTNrBtiToxY12XIcrNV2LjH2u-bJ1aPDyMfleDJRj3/s3840/MV5BZGMzYzEyYjQtMDY4NC00Mzg4LThmY2MtY2FjYzViNGJiMDg0XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTE1MjA3MzYx._V1_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgags2JB00G3E3iLG7Qj4zljCpYEKLpZ7cOI7F1XqMYjeH16tJPZ-QT4opKhNqHupojknfF98KQ6xl1B5uj2uL7_eSFzEYJE767EYQKNp-XU9BqLuCIWuInGpd2rP-jAfq6v-tI_N4AGCiVxvcGm3oTNrBtiToxY12XIcrNV2LjH2u-bJ1aPDyMfleDJRj3/w400-h225/MV5BZGMzYzEyYjQtMDY4NC00Mzg4LThmY2MtY2FjYzViNGJiMDg0XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTE1MjA3MzYx._V1_.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Don't google "special boy." The images only get darker.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>[<u>Standing Disclaimer</u>: While I have watched…just a stupid amount of MLS over the years, I don’t watch the vast majority of games, never mind all of them. As such, it’s fair to take anything below that isn’t a hard number or a physical trophy as an impression, a couple steps removed.]</i></div></i><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Thumbnail History</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">If you put a gun to my head before I wrote this post and asked me when Minnesota United FC joined the league, I’d be writing this post at your mercy. 2017? Then again, maybe that’s for the best…they still <a href="https://www.mnufc.com/news/minnesota-united-announces-sean-mcauley-will-continue-as-interim-head-coach" target="_blank">don’t have a damn head coach</a> last I heard…</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">One wild season aside (see below), I think of Minnesota as a team that always makes the playoffs, but never looks much like reaching the end of them. Turns out that’s only half right: the Loons fell short in both of their first two seasons – and by a fair amount. The half-remembered consistency kicked in after that: they qualified for the playoffs in each of the next four seasons - 2019-2022 - if from the middle of the table or thereabouts; 7th place overall finish in 2019 is their high-water mark. Adrian Heath coached them from their ascent from the USL (in 2017) to (something like) the latter third of 2023, when they let him go. In my mind, “Heath-ball” has generally meant trotting out teams that were sturdy in every sense of the word - i.e., stubborn and unimaginative – but that, like the other pieces above, didn’t fall into place until Heath got his defensive midfield in order. That took care of one side of the team, for as long as it did, anyway, but Minnesota has this tic, equal parts knack and limitation, of finding one guy with that special something, a game-changer…</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">…that’s just one game-changer, mind. Don’t want to go about putting on airs.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Best Season(s)</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">2020, easily, the playoff run that put <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_MLS_Cup_Playoffs#Western_Conference_3" target="_blank">the fear of God</a> into a Seattle Sounders team that was a dead man walking without even knowing it (Columbus Crew SC beat Seattle at a stroll in MLS Cup 2020). Minnesota had found Emanuel Reynoso by then – i.e., the greatest game-changer in Loons history – which meant they’d finally found a means to make “stubborn” payoff and even dream a little. MLS journeyman/hot boy, Kevin Molino, did just as much as Reynoso to make that happen. Think of it as a combination of two kinds of wizardry, something not seen before or since in Minnesota.</div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Long-Term Tendencies</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">Time to see how well my impression of this team in the Thumbnail History above holds up. <i>Yep</i>. Minnesota has exceeded the league average for goals scored just once in seven seasons – their 2020 annus mirabilis season. The big shock comes on the defensive side, because they’ve only managed one great defensive season, and two good ones – i.e., 2019 was their best, 2020 and 2021 were fine. The outliers in Minnesota’s short history speaks to the home-truth about this team: going over the goals allowed average spells disaster. That’s a defining trait for a low-scoring team, I know, but their draining consistency on what boils down to a negative stat begs some real questions. And the fact that Minnesota missed the 2023 playoffs should get people asking them at louder volumes.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; font-weight: bold; text-decoration-line: underline;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZN6n5xwkxNIBxeK_piSqIaLUWucPgQlBOrQ3d8RbpcOADgoFZiynsDlK0GUKBmXV5tnxGh4juku5pchnqJTx3mxv5Mi6KTh9WGGLlFfr55L6Yav1o7DmXECokbq3yvSVyIdgnMv4QKRPuahC4kmk3rAZmVVzU9fgwKev0HnfNNZincraUlM1o6ePwmRAW/s523/88514294_040_b.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="523" data-original-width="349" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZN6n5xwkxNIBxeK_piSqIaLUWucPgQlBOrQ3d8RbpcOADgoFZiynsDlK0GUKBmXV5tnxGh4juku5pchnqJTx3mxv5Mi6KTh9WGGLlFfr55L6Yav1o7DmXECokbq3yvSVyIdgnMv4QKRPuahC4kmk3rAZmVVzU9fgwKev0HnfNNZincraUlM1o6ePwmRAW/s320/88514294_040_b.webp" width="214" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Oh, geez. Nothing that spicy!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration-line: underline;"><u>Identity</u></b>: Wallpaper, something you see every day/season, but don’t really notice. It sounds wild saying that as a Portland Timbers fan, what with Minnesota’s history of giving them fits, but the Loons really are neither good nor bad, they’re just kind of…there.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: bold;"><u>Joy Points</u></b><b>:</b> 1. Because they made the playoffs one more time than they missed them.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration-line: underline;">A Half Dozen Names to Know</u> (here's <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Minnesota_United_FC_players" target="_blank">a good all-time roster</a>, the kind that sort. The good ones)</div><u><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>Miguel Ibarra/Christian Ramirez</u></div></u><div style="text-align: justify;">While I don’t want to give the impression Minnesota came into MLS with shorting its offense in mind – and one could argue I can’t given how far Ramirez has flown – the “Batman/Superman” combo that (presumably) terrorized the USL cast a smaller shadow in MLS. There could be some injuries I’m forgetting, but those players needed help they didn’t get. They left before they got it, in fact. At any rate, a wide player crossing to a target-man is as Soccer 101 as it gets, and MLS serves up 200-level curriculum, at a minimum.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><u><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>Michael Boxall/Brent Kallman</u></div></u><div style="text-align: justify;">There they are, stubborn and unimaginative. These guys are throwbacks and utterly delightful for it – i.e., defenders who excel at getting in the way and are good enough at the rest of it, aka, old school AF. Both Boxall and Kallman have been with Minnesota from MLS Day 1 and I don’t remotely question that choice. Could they improve? Almost certainly. But why would they?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><u><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>Osvaldo Alonso</u></div></u><div style="text-align: justify;">I can’t state with certainty that an aging Ozzie Alonso swooped in and saved a Minnesota defense that had, to that point, betrayed my memory (as in, not good enough). I can say that he arrived in 2019, i.e., the same season the Loons got on the right side of average for goals allowed for the first time. Outside of 2019, he played <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/osvaldo-alonso/stats/" target="_blank">fewer minutes than you’d think</a>, but I do believe signing Alonso signaled a recognition among Minnesota’s brain-trust that they had to mind this position on the roster.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><u><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>Kevin Molino</u></div></u><div style="text-align: justify;">I could pair Darwin Quintero with Molino almost as easily as I could pair him with Reynoso below. Minnesota signed him as their first attempt at signing a game-changer – and he succeeded to some extent – but what the Loons have always needed as much as anything else is <i>two</i> attacking threats in the same line-up*. Molino, a fast player with the technical upside to elevate it, gave them that. They tragedy is that he only did it once, that one time, in that 2020 playoff run.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><u><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>Emanuel Reynoso</u></div></u><div style="text-align: justify;">Brave fucker showed up in the COVID season…at any rate. While Reynoso may <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/emanuel-reynoso/stats/" target="_blank">not be posting worldie numbers</a>, he generally delivered Minnesota's best-ever answer to the question of how to get some artistry into that laboring offense. Impressively mobile, good playing short and long, and blessed with a shot that toggles comfortably between smart and hard, he’s been good. Gods know he needs some help…you think that’s why he keeps it up with the public tardiness?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><u><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN_rjylG6aStGhAHr2US08vPqoWfmrc4CNxqVa2HxmVzMsEBxqOkfJ42zId4sx09SUFml34La07eOnIkNY5vyTt0Eq9C5hg186S7YGs1Vy-UUJM-zVOkJlT4Kf11VVrhIv81lSnN8aQ4RLdmeXvQAPWRA0iZ8ZNnVRqLs5G1rpr9m-X11EXcdFyUZhB3i3/s1024/400785_16341_XL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN_rjylG6aStGhAHr2US08vPqoWfmrc4CNxqVa2HxmVzMsEBxqOkfJ42zId4sx09SUFml34La07eOnIkNY5vyTt0Eq9C5hg186S7YGs1Vy-UUJM-zVOkJlT4Kf11VVrhIv81lSnN8aQ4RLdmeXvQAPWRA0iZ8ZNnVRqLs5G1rpr9m-X11EXcdFyUZhB3i3/s320/400785_16341_XL.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Ooh. Sign that...</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>Robin Lod</u></div></u><div style="text-align: justify;">Yeah, yeah, there are more exciting players on this team (wait…are there?), but it is incredibly rare to see <i>any</i> player move around the middle and attacking third with the same vital aplomb as Lod. This fucker’s a utility-player extraordinaire, and to an extent that has me questioning which is actually his best position on the pitch. Anyhoo, he carried Minnesota through 2023 (and parts of 2022) as far he could carry them. Just really a impressive professional.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Where They Finished in 2023 & What the Past Says About That, If Anything</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">Minnesota hung around the broad aimless middle of the Western Conference table to the day before Decision Day, if not the Day itself, but, like most teams in that sad lot, making the playoffs wouldn’t have achieved anything besides delaying the inevitable. Also, they didn’t make the playoffs and, in a just universe, no team like that would have.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Notes/Impressions on <a href="https://www.mnufc.com/roster/" target="_blank">the Current Roster</a>/State of Ambition</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">First, and holy shit, did Kallman fucking retire? (<a href="https://www.mnufc.com/news/minnesota-united-announces-sean-mcauley-will-continue-as-interim-head-coach" target="_blank">Yep!</a>). Fortunately, I think the Loons had already replaced him with Miguel Tapias – and they’ll still have Dane St. Clair in goal (and Clint Irwin behind him), and that’s a decent defensive core, so long as it lives and starts 25+ games. Between Wil Trapp and Hasani Dotson, I think they’re all right for the workman-portions of midfield and that equation only gets better for as long as Kevin Arriaga stays healthy…then again you can always drag Lod back there again in the event he doesn’t. Minnesota always has some good sharp-tip-of-the-spear stuff in Bongokuhle Hlongwane (* the next <i>highly</i>-plausible hope for Minnesota's second banana) and Teemu Pukki, who I believe they stand to get more out of in 2024. As such, it’s just all the questions that linger in between, i.e., which player, new or current, will step up to shuttle the ball between that sturdy defensive midfield and those attacking players? Is Franco Fragapane up for more than the odd deadly raid and will Reynoso even report to camp? Alternately, will the team just have to slide Lod up there and hope the defensive midfield holds together. Were I a Minnesota fan, I’d be very anxious about what I was signing on to watch this season, what with all the unknowns. Also, I’m glad I’m not a Minnesota United FC fan tonight. Seriously, the fuck are they doing?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>* Joy Point Index</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">Winning the CONCACAF Champions’ League: 5 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Claiming Supporters’ Shield : 4 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Winning MLS Cup: 3 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">MLS Cup Runner-Up: 2 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Winning the U.S. Open Cup: 2 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Winning CONCACAF Champions Cup: 2 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">MLS Is Back Cup: 2 points (yeah, yeah, I’m a Timbers fan; still, that was a tough one)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">CONCACAF Champions League Semifinalist: 1 point</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Making the Playoffs: 1 point</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Missing the Playoffs: -1 point</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Missing Playoffs in 1996-97, 2002-2004 (when 80% of the league qualified): - 2 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Wooden Spoon: -3 points</div>Jeff Bullhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11384922554068429807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1394291933100545145.post-47684645680857299922024-01-29T22:54:00.000-08:002024-01-29T22:54:44.705-08:00Getting Reacquainted with Chicago Fire FC, In a Word "Yikes"<i><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvDhAyL9eYa-lRFDg_xx4P3u4dGHVCtQkKTOMq5HpeXriWTqfNoiPm-R1n6vqxaHwgtZ4NHIFe653yH_ElR04rKdeTNrzGi4-albC5m9qztRn07rPtsHHzhxGPvk5zGqPFfYY7fHLCGJR3qrHHyJECjT5z0jSSBiNt__RYnQFQAkRD2-hMclIg7eJIAUET/s610/11138_1.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="610" data-original-width="610" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvDhAyL9eYa-lRFDg_xx4P3u4dGHVCtQkKTOMq5HpeXriWTqfNoiPm-R1n6vqxaHwgtZ4NHIFe653yH_ElR04rKdeTNrzGi4-albC5m9qztRn07rPtsHHzhxGPvk5zGqPFfYY7fHLCGJR3qrHHyJECjT5z0jSSBiNt__RYnQFQAkRD2-hMclIg7eJIAUET/s320/11138_1.webp" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Hello Darkness, my old friend.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>[<u>Standing Disclaimer</u>: While I have watched…just a stupid amount of MLS over the years, I don’t watch the vast majority of games, never mind all of them. As such, it’s fair to take anything below that isn’t a hard number or a physical trophy as an impression, a couple steps removed.]</i></div></i><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Thumbnail History</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">A few posts back, I credited Atlanta United FC as the first expansion team to hit the ground running at full sprint. Goddamn my ahistoricity because the OG title for that clearly belongs to the Chicago Fire, aka, Chicago Fire FC, aka, the most searing disappointment in MLS history. That bold claim demands an explanation, naturally, so here’s my best stab at it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">While it would dry up between (roughly) 2000 and 2007, the “Marquee Player” still applied when Chicago joined the league in its third season (1998) and someone in their front office decided to raid Eastern/Central Europe for talent. At least two players they found – Piotr Nowak and Lubos Kubik – played even with the best talent of the time and heads-and-shoulders above the rest. That’s how the Fire pulled off a feat never replicated before or since – i.e., an expansion team winning MLS Cup in its first season. Hell, they even did the Baby Double by winning the U.S. Open Cup in the same season. Chicago reached MLS Cup two more times over its first seasons of simple existence - in 2000 and again in 2003 - and they won the U.S. Open Cup in both of those season, I don’t know, maybe to rub it in. That string of success and near-success came to a screeching halt in 2004 when the Fire got spanked by its first Wooden Spoon (note the word “first”). The team righted the ship over the next five seasons, finishing high in a slowly-expanding league – their 7th-place finish in 2007 was their worst from that period – while also winning yet another U.S. Open Cup…after which, and with <i>literally</i> two seasons excepted, they became the team MLS fans know today. Outside 2012 and 2017 – and they finished (in context) a crazy impressive third place in the latter – Chicago has missed the post-season every year starting in 2010. The Wooden Spoon stung their little tuchuses twice during that time – back-to-back seasons, in fact (2015 and 2016) - and they’ve finished in 20th place or lower in every season since 2015, save what now must feel like a heartbreaking success in 2017. In a word, yikes.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Best Season(s)</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">Rather than over-think this, I’m going to roll with 1998, i.e., the Baby Double triumph, but I’m guessing both the organization and its fans always assumed that the team’s best days would return in every season through 2009. Just sit with that for a while. Seriously, it’s hard to remember that Chicago fielded consistently good teams over its first decade-plus in MLS. Look, I can feel the doubt bleeding through my monitor as I type, but these were fun, exciting and interesting teams…hold on, I’m getting a report from future sections in this post telling me to dial that back.</div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Long-Term Tendencies</u></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you mean besides heaping unrelenting pain on their fans, a couple things stand out – some of them rather curious. A couple flaming turd seasons aside – three of them quite recent (2021-2023) – Chicago has generally posted respectable, and sometimes good, top-line numbers in offense and defense (i.e., goals for and against). They’ve had their share of terrible seasons, obviously, but they’ve only gone 8-10 goals above the league average on goals allowed in four seasons of 26 season and they only went over at all in six more. More often than not, then, Chicago has put together decent defenses and more good ones than bad. They refined that broad averageness into something like an identity in those semi-successful 2005-2009 seasons, but it’s a mirror-image detail on both sides of that period of Aggressive Okay that succinctly answers the question, “who did the bad things to Chicago?” The Fire’s attack was fire over five of their first six seasons (1998-2003): they didn’t go wildly over the average for goals scored, but they typically scored 8-10 over in those seasons. Now, if I may direct your attention to the last three seasons of Fire football, you’ll find them between 11 and 12 goals-scored below average in 2021 and 2022, and seven off in 2023. To put that in more concrete terms, that pencils out to giving their fans a single goal per game, plus the loosest promise of a second, for three straight seasons (i.e., 1.06 goals/game in 2021, and 1.15 (rounding up) in both 2022 and 2023). Don’t get me wrong: Chicago fielded its last strong defense in 2008 – aka, point to anywhere in a Chicago line-up and you'll be pointing near enough to a problem – but nothing has hurt this team lately more than an ability to find attacking talent and shape it into something that functions, never mind threatens.</div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; font-weight: bold; text-decoration-line: underline;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkY3ghcKMUm5tH9C65vKvjdeuCf2GzP20hjGXrXjdUixsTRrJTPFOJvvwVqNch-U1qmdu09Dvqb8cp5hCnVUoiEPMlYH5LdpD_7_yT7W0PCvU9I50puJlf8oiaU0mF_0ZH311uMhKgxMn-2iH5hjWK2vIIOKiCC4EY3ep6pmRuFyB_Oe9N2fYc-ajBrTF-/s1600/Picture_of_Dorian_Gray.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkY3ghcKMUm5tH9C65vKvjdeuCf2GzP20hjGXrXjdUixsTRrJTPFOJvvwVqNch-U1qmdu09Dvqb8cp5hCnVUoiEPMlYH5LdpD_7_yT7W0PCvU9I50puJlf8oiaU0mF_0ZH311uMhKgxMn-2iH5hjWK2vIIOKiCC4EY3ep6pmRuFyB_Oe9N2fYc-ajBrTF-/w400-h225/Picture_of_Dorian_Gray.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>That's it, old boy. Remember the good times...</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration-line: underline;"><u>Identity</u></b>: Portrait of Dorian Gray. Seriously.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: bold;"><u>Joy Points</u></b>: 2, which shows how quickly three Wooden Spoons diminish any accomplishments. Still, those two points were good for 18th overall on Joy Points. Longevity strikes again…</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: bold;"><u>10 Names to Know</u></b> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All-time_Chicago_Fire_FC_roster" target="_blank">an all-time list</a>, for reference, shit format again, sadly)</div><u><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>Lubos Kubik</u> (1998-2000)</div></u><div style="text-align: justify;">I doubt I could make any fan who started following MLS after say, 2015, fully appreciate how…just shitty everything on and about the field looked in the league from 1996 to 2005. The skill-set for 75% of the defenders, in particular, topped out at just getting in the way. Kubik, a big, experienced Czech defender, erased that perception on arrival because the man could <i>play</i> out of the back: long passes, short ones, free-kicks, the man did it all and made ball-progression look easy. I’d seen that in the EPL before him, but all that? Rare as a white tiger in 1990s MLS.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><u><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>Piotr Nowak</u> (1998-2002)</div></u><div style="text-align: justify;">The intensity he brought to the game came back to bite him when he turned to coaching (sounded like a lunatic, honestly), but Nowak was something else in transition. Despite what his overall numbers say, he just murdered defenses (starting in midfield) over his first two seasons in the league. Like Kubik, he was something rare for his time, something defenses hadn’t seen before…and to think, he might have joined MLS as a young man, or even his prime, had he signed with MLS 20 years later…</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><u><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>C. J. Brown</u> (1998-2010)</div></u><div style="text-align: justify;">Just a smart, athletic defender Chicago found in the American lower divisions who went on to anchor Fire defenses – most of them pretty good – for 13 seasons. Having Brown all those seasons meant never having to think about the defense beyond the question of who to pair him with – and that went double for the nine seasons Zach Thornton prowled behind him in the nets.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><u><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>Chris Armas</u> (1998-2007)</div></u><div style="text-align: justify;">Another mainstay for those early, successful Fire teams, another strong American defensive midfielder from what can sometimes feel like the glory days, Armas excelled at the dirty work, while also bringing a little more speed of thought and precision in the other direction. Against the general back-drop (see note on 1998-2005 seasons), he gave a taste of what better players could do at his position.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><u><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>Ante Razov</u> (1998-2000, 2001-2004; things didn’t last long with Spain’s Racing Ferrol in 2001)</div></u><div style="text-align: justify;">Still the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_League_Soccer_records_and_statistics#Goals" target="_blank">seventh-all-time goal-scorer</a> in MLS history at 114 (and being challenged, if at a slower pace, by Josef Martinez), Razov was pretty damn complete forward – i.e., big enough to play the target-man, but also more both-footed than most and a couple notches about respectable from range. Very hard to defend, basically, and lethal when he got a look. Rightfully a Fire legend.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><u><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>Hristo Stoichov/ Cuauhtemoc Blanco</u> (2000-2002 and 2007-2009, respectively)</div></u><div style="text-align: justify;">Here, because the Fire had this yen for aging star players back in the day and a knack for finding fun ones - like these two. Due to the era – again, these were MLS’s lean seasons – signings like this worked better than they do today. Age held back both players a little, but they played like they cared, posted decent numbers, and put butts in seats. The glory days were drying up by the time Blanco left, but they weren’t over yet…</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><u><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>Justin Mapp</u> (2003-2010)</div></u><div style="text-align: justify;">Razov aside, all the attacking players named above came from overseas, but Mapp joined Chicago as an exciting young American talent and proceeded to have the career to back it up. He struggled with injuries a bit, but still managed eight seasons with Chicago and put up <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/justin-mapp/stats/" target="_blank">some solid supporting case numbers</a> – if more assists than goals. To repeat a theme, Mapp gave the Fire a reliable attacking option. Back when they had that kind of thing. Paging Chris Mueller…</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><u><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>Patrick Nyarko</u> (2008-2015)</div></u><div style="text-align: justify;">A more or less immediate successor to Mapp and <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/patrick-nyarko/stats/" target="_blank">nearly as effective</a>. They both played wide, had the pace and technique to unsettle fullbacks/defenses, and more set-up man than finisher; it's as if Chicago had a player profile in mind for Mapp's/Nyarko's position, only without figuring out how to complement it. One has to wonder how good both players could have been if they had someone like, say, Razov to play to.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><u><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>Dominic Oduro/David Accam</u> (2011-2012 and 2015-2017, respectively)</div></u><div style="text-align: justify;">Even if the latter came from something closer to the same mold as Mapp and Nyarko, I recall both of these players arriving as solutions to Chicago’s attacking…limits. Both had enough moments to get fans and pundits believing they only needed a little more time – Oduro even had this freaky thing in the 2010s where he’d post solid numbers every other season – but neither repaid that belief for long. Is Chicago’s scouting overly hopeful, or just bad? Hold on…</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><u><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>Bastian Schweinsteiger/Xherdan Shaqiri</u> (2017-2019 and 2022-2024, respectively)</div></u><div style="text-align: justify;">If the late scouting/decision-making thereon has a flaw, it comes from leaning too deeply into the Los Angeles Galaxy theory of banking on one great (late-career) player to turn-around/carry the entire team. They play from different spots on the field, of course – even if Schweinsteiger came forward often enough – and the German <i>definitely</i> enjoyed more success than his Swiss counterpart, who has openly flirted with the dread “bust” label, but going big hasn’t panned out for the Fire the way it (marginally) used to. You can smell the rot around this team….</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Where They Finished in 2023 & What the Past Says About That, If Anything</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">24th overall behind a gently vulnerable defense and a bumbling attack. The Fire had their games, but they also failed to score at all in 14 games across 2023 – and with the balance of them coming down the stretch. It was a radical failure to get results, so more of the same basically.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Notes/Impressions on the Current Roster/State of Ambition</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">Like more than a few people, I cut Chicago a lot of slack in 2023, at least right up until the wheels came off down the stretch. And there are players to get excited about on <a href="https://www.chicagofirefc.com/roster/" target="_blank">this roster</a> (as of January 29, 2024) – the youngster Brian Gutierrez chief among them – and I liked what I saw from Gaston Gimenez in midfield and most of what I saw from Carlos Teran in defense. Oh, and they may have another budding goalkeeping great in Chris Brady, a successor the last one, Gabriel Slonina. Going the other way, I saw Rafael Czichos, their captain(?), fuck up catastrophically in defense and both Shaqiri and newer signing, Jairo Torres, produce seasons that makes you wonder whether the Fire’s FO could pick a designated player with Messi and Ronaldo lined up with one visibly out of shape guy in the mix. From there, “solutions” like Kacper Przybylko failed to live up to his calling and, in fine Fire tradition, they didn’t get much out of new-to-2022 signing Maren Haile-Selassie and they couldn’t get even 10 games out of second-season signing Chris Mueller. I don’t know how close all that comes to “best-laid plans.” I also can’t believe they’ll get enough out of 2023-24 off-season signings, Tom Barlow (forward) and Andrew Gutman (defense/wild card), and second-year forward Georgios Koutsias, whom I’ll now confess I know nothing about, to wake up from what has become a decade-long waking nightmare Shit is bleak. I don’t know Chicago well, but I’m pretty damn sure I know them well enough to say they haven’t done enough to keep up with the Eastern Conference Joneses.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>* Joy Point Index</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">Winning the CONCACAF Champions’ League: 5 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Claiming Supporters’ Shield : 4 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Winning MLS Cup: 3 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">MLS Cup Runner-Up: 2 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Winning the U.S. Open Cup: 2 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Winning CONCACAF Champions Cup: 2 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">MLS Is Back Cup: 2 points (yeah, yeah, I’m a Timbers fan; still, that was a tough one)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">CONCACAF Champions League Semifinalist: 1 point</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Making the Playoffs: 1 point</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Missing the Playoffs: -1 point</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Missing Playoffs in 1996-97, 2002-2004 (when 80% of the league qualified): - 2 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Wooden Spoon: -3 points</div>Jeff Bullhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11384922554068429807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1394291933100545145.post-2135426782352711662024-01-28T16:15:00.000-08:002024-01-28T16:15:48.709-08:00Getting Reacquainted with the Colorado Rapids, MLS's Bargain-Shopping Wild Cards<i><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtdSxktuME0TsyXwFVt9BBWIFBjX17V5DkPHX4F0YK6p9A4iJVa97unTyj0oUHuhA6nHekDkdcPunYZmJKjv2KgWOdxXreQlY4QNKiQK6LYIng4CCBDkHRx3gdXqOi3rrAEJ9h0fCta-Q8HsAsij13RYiwKzdUW1kA97A6qaQsrbJYcMHIZDEifz6en3Cp/s1100/katie-holmes-joey-potter-dawsons-creek-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="1100" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtdSxktuME0TsyXwFVt9BBWIFBjX17V5DkPHX4F0YK6p9A4iJVa97unTyj0oUHuhA6nHekDkdcPunYZmJKjv2KgWOdxXreQlY4QNKiQK6LYIng4CCBDkHRx3gdXqOi3rrAEJ9h0fCta-Q8HsAsij13RYiwKzdUW1kA97A6qaQsrbJYcMHIZDEifz6en3Cp/s320/katie-holmes-joey-potter-dawsons-creek-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>That's what Dawson's Creek was about, yeah?</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>[<u>Standing Disclaimer</u>: While I have watched…just a stupid amount of MLS over the years, I don’t watch the vast majority of games, never mind all of them. As such, it’s fair to take anything below that isn’t a hard number or a physical trophy as an impression, a couple steps removed.]</i></div></i><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Thumbnail History</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">What’s the most surprising thing I can say about MLS’s most surprising team, the Colorado Rapids? Is it the fact they hoisted an MLS Cup in 2010, that they played one of those great, early and unstoppable DC United teams to a valiant loss in MLS Cup 1997, or that they “won” MLS’s first-ever Wooden Spoon in the inaugural season? Never mind…that last one is probably less surprising than the fact they haven’t got slapped by the Wooden Spoon since.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I haven’t conducted the survey to back this up, but I’m guessing the Rapids top the list of teams most often forgotten by fans of other teams not named Real Salt Lake; even if they don’t top it, I’d still wager they hover near the top. (This doesn’t happen for me, as I’m mildly obsessed with Colorado in a pretty-girl-you-left-behind-in-your-small-hometown kind of way.) Colorado misses the MLS playoffs nearly as often as they make them – 13 times versus 15, respectively – and they have a wholly-earned their reputation as one of the most miserly teams in the league (listen carefully and you can hear the screams of pennies echoing over the Rockies…or is that just their fans?). For reference, <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/colorado-rapids-sign-usmnt-midfielder-djordje-mihailovic-from-az-alkmaar" target="_blank">the $3 million transfer</a> they paid for Djordje Mihailovic this off-season made him Colorado’s record signing. As an organization, they find talent the same way bargain shoppers find steals (or hope to) in the bins at the local Goodwill – e.g., lots of internal transfers, some of them manifestly non-sensical (see, Cabral, Kevin) – and yet going all in on the Moneyball method has seen them finish second overall twice in the past decade (2016 and 2021)…they’ve also missed the playoffs (checks notes) seven times across the same decade, so there’s that…</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Best Season(s)</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">It’s gotta be the 2010 MLS Cup-winning season, there’s something about that second-place finish in 2021 that makes a body believe in the miracle of Moneyball. To plumb one more alternative, I ruled out the 1997 MLS Cup runner-up run because it looks like, and almost certainly was, a crap-shoot – i.e., a testament to the limits of available talent, an odd, yet still logical result of competing in a 10-team league in just its second season, etc.. It was still pretty damn outlandish seeing Colorado’s “Marquee Players,” Paul Bravo and Marcelo Balboa, square off against DC/MLS legends like Marco Etcheverry and Jaime Moreno. The point is, when you look at the Rapids’ roster <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MLS_Cup_2010#Match_details" target="_blank">for MLS Cup 2010</a>, you can see that team reaching/winning a final. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MLS_Cup_1997#Details" target="_blank">The 1997 team</a>, not so much.</div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Long-Term Tendencies</u></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Hope you’re sitting down for this, but the Rapids have a history of fielding subpar-to-crappy attacks. They have either matched the average for goals scored (8 times) or fell below it (4 times) – sometimes well below (8 times) – in 20 of 28 regular seasons (i.e., what in the name of Kevin Cabral is going on here?). On the rare occasions they have topped the goals-for average, they haven’t got over by much. A great defense could have rescued more Colorado seasons – as it did in 2016, when a stellar defense threw a crappy attack on its back and carried it to second place – but Colorado fields average (2 times) or worse (14 times) overall defenses more often than not. In fewer words, the Rapids have a history of fielding crappy teams. And yet there’s that knack for finding a pony in a pile of shit every four to five years...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><u><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwiVZyPfrGvAtZPPQuseRMmfrnlf8oc5RYoxJi8qSRA5TlhVhYQ0RJKDkSVNAzTgbIQvq3lIl0NXOl9yN90NdgEyYQlGNCbYPe2ddKixi1plRQd8YlV9IAm7ssu7xfulY19QzVm3yMl_Gh3qKdVu3L1OwaUulOoIQ74veiU_z1T4otspsqVCRsTMLhVmeK/s800/PT-Goodwill-1.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="800" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwiVZyPfrGvAtZPPQuseRMmfrnlf8oc5RYoxJi8qSRA5TlhVhYQ0RJKDkSVNAzTgbIQvq3lIl0NXOl9yN90NdgEyYQlGNCbYPe2ddKixi1plRQd8YlV9IAm7ssu7xfulY19QzVm3yMl_Gh3qKdVu3L1OwaUulOoIQ74veiU_z1T4otspsqVCRsTMLhVmeK/s320/PT-Goodwill-1.webp" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Here pony, pony, pony...</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Identity</u></b>: MLS’s bargain-hunting wild card.</div></u></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><u><div style="text-align: justify;"><u><b>Joy Points</b></u>: 4, i.e., the fruits of winning exactly one MLS Cup, making the playoffs <i>just</i> often enough, dodging the Wooden Spoon, and being in the league since Year One. 17th overall.</div></u><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>10 Names to Know</u></b> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All-time_Colorado_Rapids_roster" target="_blank">All-time roster for reference</a>; fair warning, the format is hella clunky)</div></b><u><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>Marcelo Balboa</u> (1996-2001)</div></u><div style="text-align: justify;">The first great player in Rapids history, a central defender who counted as cultured for his time and place, Balboa played just five seasons in Colorado but still has a face-of-the-franchise reputation. To carry forward a detail from above, just two of the defenses he led kept their goals allowed under the league average. In a pair of dueling twists, one of their best defensive seasons was the 1996 Wooden Spoon season and one their worst the team that traveled to MLS Cup 1997.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><u><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>Pablo Mastroeni</u> (2002-2013)</div></u><div style="text-align: justify;">A two-way midfield beast and a man who seemingly runs on the doubt of others, Mastroeni anchored the Rapids midfield for just over a decade and played an even 225 games for them. He holds “grizzled veteran” honors for captaining the 2010 team that won MLS Cup – and he survived a baptism by fire eight years before in the 2002 World Cup. The man preaches belief for a reason.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><u><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>Conor Casey/Omar Cummings</u> (both 2007-2012)</div></u><div style="text-align: justify;">They came and went at the same time, forming the most famous and successful attacking partnership in Rapids history. They paired nicely too, with Casey as the wrecking ball and Cummings as the fleet-of-foot foil running off him. Both players had other strong seasons for Colorado, if <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/conor-casey/stats/" target="_blank">Casey more than</a> Cummings (though 2009 saw Cummings <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/omar-cummings/stats/" target="_blank">pile up the assists</a>), but, in fine Rapids’ tradition, they both had just one great season at the same time, the 2010 Cup run (duh).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><u><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>Drew Moor</u> (2009-2015, 2020-2022)</div></u><div style="text-align: justify;">Another fun story: Dallas traded Moor to Colorado in 2009, i.e., the season before he helped the Rapids beat them in MLS 2010. Easily one of the smartest and steadiest American central defenders in MLS history and blessed with health and longevity (therefore availability!), it’s no accident Moor started in three MLS Cups (one for Colorado, two for Toronto FC).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><u><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>Marvell Wynne</u> (2010-2014)</div></u><div style="text-align: justify;">I’m using Wynne as a stand-in for the way the Rapids salvage discarded parts from around the league and make them useful. No one would ever mistake Marvell Wynne for the best defender in MLS, but the man was <i>fast</i>, fast enough to erase 90% of any mistakes he made. He defends what appears to be the grand theory behind the Rapids roster builds – i.e., <i>an</i> answer can go a long way.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><u><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>Dillon Powers</u> (2013-2017)</div></u><div style="text-align: justify;">When they weren’t digging for diamonds in the bargain bins, the Rapids traced other unlikely paths to success – e.g., the SuperDraft. You could see Powers potential – particularly after a reasonably successful rookie season (he was in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dillon_Powers#Club_career" target="_blank">Rookie of the Year convos</a>) – and it wasn’t crazy to believe he’d improve year-on-year. Instead, he plateaued. Powers wasn’t a bad player, but he never so much as flirted with becoming the (franchise?) player the Rapids hoped he’d become. (Dillon Serna, a similar player on many of the same starting XIs, fell into the same bag.)</div><br /><u><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw2ue6coXsYLgvNymX65qfCk2e9WuNV0vTAUyij9x-7StE9ZPa3t-kbv2gHZlUXz1pqf6wp61pSed2cUhO_eLZDoiPMy7-kHnRMs129u62zb4cwWjyKvq8CD9zpHtxSXdOgz-0y48TQT2e-WhPMj6q4wzHmFVokJpgbO506WBOImzg8NUuYw0vmsQO75x5/s680/meme1_2961649k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="680" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw2ue6coXsYLgvNymX65qfCk2e9WuNV0vTAUyij9x-7StE9ZPa3t-kbv2gHZlUXz1pqf6wp61pSed2cUhO_eLZDoiPMy7-kHnRMs129u62zb4cwWjyKvq8CD9zpHtxSXdOgz-0y48TQT2e-WhPMj6q4wzHmFVokJpgbO506WBOImzg8NUuYw0vmsQO75x5/w400-h250/meme1_2961649k.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>Tim Howard</u> (2016-2019)</div></u><div style="text-align: justify;">The inspiration for one of the great all-time memes, but also a goalkeeper that made two MLS teams (Red Bull New York, then Colorado), not to mention the U.S. Men’s National Team, better and more secure, and who ultimately proved to be EPL-starter good. I’ve never heard the story of how he wound up in Colorado and mostly hope it didn’t involve hostage-taking.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><u><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>Shkelzen Gashi</u> (2016-2019)</div></u><div style="text-align: justify;">Gashi, meanwhile, provides a good example of how the Rapids fare when they get fancy in the transfer market. His transfer couldn’t have been that high (see above), but he arrived as a designated player and in the vein of people calling a player “the [______] Maradona/Messi” (depends on one’s age), I’m pretty sure people called Gashi the Albanian Messi. While he did deliver some big moments, he couldn’t deliver enough of them to stick around longer than he did.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><u><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>Jack Price</u> (2018-2023)</div></u><div style="text-align: justify;">Arguably the last real game-changer in recent Rapids’ history, Price was less about producing eye-popping numbers (though that’s <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/jack-price/stats/" target="_blank">a good haul for assists</a>) than making an impressive number of the other players around him better. If there’s a high-upside player in soccer that doesn’t get half the respect it deserves, it’s the deep-lying playmaker, aka, the guy who feeds the guy who assists on the goal. Price provided that until the injuries hobbled him.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Where They Finished in 2023 & What the Past Says About That, If Anything</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">In the middle of a shit-show, basically. Their play and quality would have delivered a spicy thwack from the Wooden Spoon, but for-Toronto’s atrocity of a season. Based on everything I gleaned from the indirect inputs, the Rapids banked on Price to carry them through, only he couldn’t carry himself to a fucking Costco, etc. The attack essentially failed – there’s no other word for falling 20 goals short of the league average – and the best thing one can say about the defense is that it failed less. In sum, the Rapids finished dead last in the West, a mile below the playoff line, and with the handful of Rapids fans I used to follow on twitter (before I checked out) in full, if online, revolt. And yet, if a bad season was a rodeo for those fans, this was hardly their first.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Notes/Impressions on the Current Roster/State of Ambition</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">My sense of the Rapids’ front office’s ambition was covered amply above – and, if you really think about it, what was Mihailovic’s transfer but an expensive spin on more of the same? – but a lack of ambition doesn’t always translate to a lack of activity. Colorado have shed players like dead skin (ew) in the 2023-24 off-season and called in new, dynamic and, notably, young-to-prime players like Mihailovic and, from Red Bull New York, a spring-chicken of a free agent in Omir Fernandez. Those two will join players like Cole Bassett, Connor Ronan, and…Braian Galvan(?) and Ralph Priso(?) in midfield giving the team a lot of activity in the middle third; the jury’s still out on the question of refinement. To be clear, I like several of those players – e.g., Ronan does enough of what Price used to and Mihailovic may unlock some things - but none of those players track as ringers for me. A strong forward corps could value-add some coherence to that (expected) swirl of activity, but, for all the impressive snippets I saw from Darren Yapi and despite Rafael Navarro’s DP designation, neither has that “strong” reputation that makes other teams nervous. On the plus side, Colorado signed a “real” goalkeeper in Zac Steffen, who will <i>very much</i> need to be present given how torridly Lalas Abubakar has regressed in recent seasons. With Andreas Maxso and Keegan Rosenberry in the starting mix, the defense looks basically competent, but the team’s history suggests a need for something more. Toss in a coach I don’t trust, aka, Chris Armas, and you wind up wondering how much the Rapids will improve will believing that, surely, they must (right?).</div><br /><b><u>* Joy Point Index </u></b><br />Winning the CONCACAF Champions’ League: 5 points <br />Claiming Supporters’ Shield : 4 points <br />Winning MLS Cup: 3 points <br />MLS Cup Runner-Up: 2 points <br />Winning the U.S. Open Cup: 2 points <br />Winning CONCACAF Champions Cup: 2 points <br />MLS Is Back Cup: 2 points (yeah, yeah, I’m a Timbers fan; still, that was a tough one) <br />CONCACAF Champions League Semifinalist: 1 point <br />Making the Playoffs: 1 point <br />Missing the Playoffs: -1 point <br />Missing Playoffs in 1996-97, 2002-2004 (when 80% of the league qualified): - 2 points <br />Wooden Spoon: -3 pointsJeff Bullhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11384922554068429807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1394291933100545145.post-54384046250060838702024-01-25T22:12:00.000-08:002024-01-25T22:15:50.537-08:00Getting Reacquainted with Nashville SC, the Proles of MLS<i><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbRlEZqOV649AJidFOg3EM83zWQHVOsShy9AOQKU40ASNxRz_LkaeGk-drnzkwoC15_jIlOvYCQrH9ILmN4oCVvFxOaTRfZ4OQrkoT7SwfpXqLUbu68t3HbX2Ce8pnH208Z9xKzgG2NEtDxN0ZG8sHTJSDzufDRngl970gHb7HtH3wBaHV9fD4wScMcQb/s900/4111up1GettyImages-51714772.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbRlEZqOV649AJidFOg3EM83zWQHVOsShy9AOQKU40ASNxRz_LkaeGk-drnzkwoC15_jIlOvYCQrH9ILmN4oCVvFxOaTRfZ4OQrkoT7SwfpXqLUbu68t3HbX2Ce8pnH208Z9xKzgG2NEtDxN0ZG8sHTJSDzufDRngl970gHb7HtH3wBaHV9fD4wScMcQb/w400-h266/4111up1GettyImages-51714772.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I'm very pro-labor, but this team needs more bosses.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>[<u>Standing Disclaimer</u>: While I have watched…just a stupid amount of MLS over the years, I don’t watch the vast majority of games, never mind all of them. As such, it’s fair to take anything below that isn’t a hard number or a physical trophy as an impression, a couple steps removed.]</i></div></i><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Thumbnail History</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">A bit dull, honestly, which pushes the devil to the details – i.e., see the Half Dozen Names to Know section below. They’ve made the playoffs every season since joining MLS and, if I’m being honest, I don’t really recall whether pundits and punters every <i>genuinely</i> believed they’d go anywhere in the post-season, never mind go big. A glance at the playoff brackets for each of their four seasons in the league argues against: Nashville SC made the conference semis in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_MLS_Cup_Playoffs#Playoffs_proper_bracket" target="_blank">(weird) 2020</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_MLS_Cup_Playoffs#Bracket" target="_blank">2021</a>, but haven’t been able to clear the first round since (see <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_MLS_Cup_Playoffs#Bracket" target="_blank">2022</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_MLS_Cup_Playoffs#Bracket" target="_blank">2023</a>). The best way to describe Nashville’s short history would be…a lot of that.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Best Season(s)</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">2021? I guess? That post-season saw Nashville roll Orlando City SC in the first round and push a solid Philadelphia Union team to the wall (aka, PKs) in the Eastern Conference semis. Heck, they even scored a goal in that one.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Long-Term Tendencies</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">Can confirm: 2021 was Nashville’s best season, an argument bolstered by the fact that they actually found a little headroom above the league scoring average for the first and, so far, only time – yessir, 55 goals scored against an MLS-wide average of 47.4. Their scoring has ranged from a whisker over the goals-for average in one other season, while falling a ways below in the other two. And that makes the secret to Nashville’s version of success…<i>correct,</i> stubborn, borderline immovable defenses from one season to the next – i.e., 10 goals below the average against in (a quite low-scoring (and, again, weird) 2020 season, a shade under 14 goals below in 2021, just over nine in 2022, and 15 in 2023. Balls that cannot be broken, basically.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: bold;"><u>Identity</u></b><b>: </b>the Proles of MLS</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: bold;"><u>Joy Points</u></b><b>:</b> 4, aka, fuck it, it's a job and it pays the bills.</div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="font-weight: bold;">A Half Dozen Names to Know</u> (and here's <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Nashville_SC_players" target="_blank">a full list, current to 2022</a>, for reference)</div><u><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>Walker Zimmerman</u> (2020- )</div></u><div style="text-align: justify;">It hasn’t hurt ‘em half as much as it should have, but I still can’t believe Los Angeles FC let Zimmerman walk in 2020. Their loss handed Nashville a brick wall in their inaugural season and in every season since. One of the most dominant center backs in MLS. Again, crazy trade.</div><br /><u><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwBzviGMWvYqkUDulqTpC8wYTicQkzw6_ZLKmbDRrUXmqSur1Cr7e1bmxrydh21Ct984u9kzPpwkrCo_kH6c_g3mmcQhuPCvMJEH9sJY6Hvon-d3YQIGlD1VLBBD8zXVM1iuQqcJTD4Eiifer5IxXAPgsVNnZqEYS4T4HWD-eyH7IPi8VNOvF8YhYgev8I/s980/david_schwimmer.webp" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="551" data-original-width="980" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwBzviGMWvYqkUDulqTpC8wYTicQkzw6_ZLKmbDRrUXmqSur1Cr7e1bmxrydh21Ct984u9kzPpwkrCo_kH6c_g3mmcQhuPCvMJEH9sJY6Hvon-d3YQIGlD1VLBBD8zXVM1iuQqcJTD4Eiifer5IxXAPgsVNnZqEYS4T4HWD-eyH7IPi8VNOvF8YhYgev8I/s320/david_schwimmer.webp" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>...how did this happened and why?</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>Dax McCarty</u> (2020-2023)</div></u><div style="text-align: justify;">A present MLS legend, as opposed to a future one (see above), but one who toils in the most crucial, yet unsung position in the beautiful game. Smart as a whip, technical enough to make it count, and, just as important as all that, he hasn’t missed many games in his long, <i>long</i> career (<a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/dax-mccarty/stats/" target="_blank">18 (fucking!) seasons</a>, not counting 2006), McCarty has served as <i>the</i> engine for four-plus MLS teams. Nashville let him go on a free this past off-season, not unreasonably, but hopefully with a salute.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><u><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>Hany Mukhtar</u> (2020- )</div></u><div style="text-align: justify;">For all the things they haven’t done right and all the signings they’ve botched (getting to that; sit tight), Nashville unearthed a big…carat-crazy diamond (I don’t know how carats work) when they found Mukhtar. He pocketed the 2022 Golden Boot on a season to die for (23 goals, 11 assists, regular season alone) and has posted strong numbers in every other season since he joined. And, not incidentally, carried Nashville’s ass through just as many.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><u><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>Randall Leal/Jacob Shaffelburg</u> (2020-, and 2022-, respectively)</div></u><div style="text-align: justify;">Placed here to symbolize Nashville’s <i>dire</i> need for a player, any player give opposing defenses anything to think about besides Mukhtar – also, hold that thought. Leal posted real numbers <a href="https://www.nashvillesc.com/players/randall-leal/stats/" target="_blank">in 2021</a> – thus supporting the theory – but he tends to miss some games and Shaffelburg feels like an eternal passenger on the hype train often as not.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><u><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>Ake Loba</u> (2021-2023)</div></u><div style="text-align: justify;">If memory serves, this dude was supposed to be <i>the</i> signing, the attacking threat to spearhead Nashville’s attack and give Mukhtar some wider seams to carve open. Instead, Loba went down as one of the biggest busts/albatrosses in MLS history. He cost a bundle (a then-/maybe still <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ak%C3%A9_Arnaud_Loba" target="_blank">record $6.8 million</a>) and only returned two goals and 40 aimless games. If someone didn’t lose their job on that one, someone else isn’t doing his/her job. How mightily Nashville struggled to off-load his expensive dead-weight became a league-wide punchline. Just brutal.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><u><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>C. J. Sapong</u> (2021-2023(?))</div></u><div style="text-align: justify;">Before digging into/near Sapong, a player I respect immensely, I want to add this: Nashville have made some <i>very</i> smart signings in their short history. When it comes to any player wearing a traditional number lower than a No. 8, they have a good-to-great track record – e.g., Dan Lovitz, Jake Maher, Sean Davis. Getting back to Sapong, signing him wasn’t nuts…and yet there is not one damn thing in his profile to suggest he could cure the scoring issues that afflict Nashville, something that’s more on Nashville’s F.O. than Sapong, because what you get from him should be <i>abundantly</i> clear by now.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Where They Finished in 2023 & What the Past Says About That, If Anything</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">12th overall, and with their 4th consecutive positive goal differential no less, but I don’t believe anyone saw them going anywhere. There’s nothing to add, really.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Notes/Impressions on the Current Roster/State of Ambition</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">Nashville looks set for another season of dourly solid – an impression they underscored by calling in Dru Yearwood from the equally dour Red Bull New York. I see they also nabbed Tyler Boyd from the Los Angeles Galaxy – who, to be clear, is a player I like/rate – but he looks for all the world to me like the next guy to condemn Mukhtar to doing 38.46% (or more) of the goal-scoring on a team doomed to reach the playoffs, and. Nashville will be a good team (<a href="https://www.nashvillesc.com/roster/" target="_blank">see?</a>) that will be hell to beat for the fifth season running, but they’ll need someone, anyone to stand up – e.g., Boyd, Shaffelburg, Sam Surridge, (why not?) Teal Bunbury – and put up some numbers if they want to lift something shiny. Entirely related, how has a team built like this failed to win the U.S. Open Cup? Maybe it's just me, but that one seems like Barbie to their Ken.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>* Joy Point Index</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">Winning the CONCACAF Champions’ League: 5 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Claiming Supporters’ Shield : 4 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Winning MLS Cup: 3 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">MLS Cup Runner-Up: 2 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Winning the U.S. Open Cup: 2 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Winning CONCACAF Champions Cup: 2 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">MLS Is Back Cup: 2 points (yeah, yeah, I’m a Timbers fan; still, that was a tough one)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">CONCACAF Champions League Semifinalist: 1 point</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Making the Playoffs: 1 point</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Missing the Playoffs: -1 point</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Missing Playoffs in 1996-97, 2002-2004 (when 80% of the league qualified): - 2 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Wooden Spoon: -3 points</div>Jeff Bullhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11384922554068429807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1394291933100545145.post-22701093528081734632024-01-23T21:39:00.000-08:002024-01-23T21:39:55.885-08:00Getting Reacquainted with Atlanta United FC, MLS's Super-Fun Party Guy<i><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqtvxPCDtXeO1c1FaSBNHcRVPQVbCaLZB5xHNqolkvLCGZzCQ5MHcc_jBYTC4c3LtCWeQnFdA7VO6RRluaHMUaJ1xO5S-ikVR6exUeujr-7GEoXu7i41EElafRJGmdMJ9Ckxm_hEKdgrELE-BACE-Pvc23rNaKGxFnK-7vDDlKukDRLZJlsC9HrXfVBEJg/s740/writing-second-act-die-hard.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="740" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqtvxPCDtXeO1c1FaSBNHcRVPQVbCaLZB5xHNqolkvLCGZzCQ5MHcc_jBYTC4c3LtCWeQnFdA7VO6RRluaHMUaJ1xO5S-ikVR6exUeujr-7GEoXu7i41EElafRJGmdMJ9Ckxm_hEKdgrELE-BACE-Pvc23rNaKGxFnK-7vDDlKukDRLZJlsC9HrXfVBEJg/w400-h205/writing-second-act-die-hard.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Act II, when things always look their worst.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>[<u>Standing Disclaimer</u>: While I have watched…just a stupid amount of MLS over the years, I don’t watch the vast majority of games, never mind all of them. As such, it’s fair to take anything below that isn’t a hard number or a physical trophy as an impression, a couple steps removed.]</i></div></i><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Thumbnail History</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">Tempted as I am to say that Atlanta United FC started a tradition of expansion teams coming into MLS swinging, that strictly applies to them and Los Angeles FC (with honorable mention to New York City FC because they didn’t actually lift a trophy until their 7th season). Atlanta announced their intentions in its very first season (2017, btw), finishing fourth overall and with the second best goal differential (+30) behind an historically (and freakishly) great Toronto FC team. They followed that opening triumph by finishing even higher in their second season (second overall, this time behind a Red Bull New York team winning its third Supporters’ Shield) and winning MLS Cup at…well, an unfortunate stroll because the team they bested was, again, my Portland Timbers (to any Timbers fans reading this, it only seems like Portland has lost MLS Cup to every team in MLS, but it was just NYCFC and Atlanta). That ended Act I in Atlanta’s history. They kicked off Act II in 2019 by finishing third overall and winning the U.S. Open…back when such things mattered. Then, Act II being what it is, tragedy (and a global pandemic) struck in 2020 and the breezes that forever blew at their back turned to blow in their faces. They ended the dread COVID season in 23rd place overall, out of the playoff picture despite a generous expansion of its outer boundaries. Atlanta’s fortunes have been mixed since then – e.g., two top 10 finishes (2021 and 2023) on either side of yet another 23rd place finish in 2022. In an expansion of theatric convention, Atlanta has stretched the third act of its early history over three seasons. The question is whether continues as tragedy or comedy.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Best Season(s)</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">Their Cup-winning 2018 season provides the obvious answer, what with Josef Martinez, Miguel Almiron and…[supporting cast] terrorizing all of MLS in transition, but I’m going to Atlanta’s 2018 season, when they finished third and won that Open Cup. Why? I mean, two trophies in three seasons. Think of what the future felt like to their fans…</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">…but, obviously, their best season was 2018. Lifting the Cup in front of your fans is a beautiful thing.</div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Long-Term Tendencies</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">If Atlanta has a tradition, it’s a high-scoring attack. They’ve been very over or wildly over the average for goals scored over four of their seven seasons in MLS – and the fact their strongest attacking seasons came at the beginning and the end of their short history makes it look more like something they build for than a fluke (but do mind the sample size). Their defenses have been almost good, but offense has been key for this team: Atlanta missed the playoffs in two of the seasons when the attack under-performed, and it took a great defense to save them from missing the playoffs in the other one.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: bold;"><u>Identity:</u></b> Uh, Super-Fun Party Guys, aka, the guys that bring exotic (yet safe) drugs to the party?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: bold;"><u>Joy Points</u></b><b>: </b>5, aka, pretty solid for a team in its seventh season, but still 15th place overall.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>A Half Dozen Names to Know</u></b> (here’s <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Atlanta_United_FC_players" target="_blank">the all-time roster</a>…current as of 4/8/2021, WTF?)</div></b><u><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>Michael Parkhurst</u> (2017-2019)</div></u><div style="text-align: justify;">Though he already made an appearance in <a href="https://conifersandcitrus.blogspot.com/2024/01/getting-re-acquainted-with-new-england.html" target="_blank">the New England Revolution post</a>, Parkhurst belongs here just as much. Experienced (he’s been to Europe!), smart, perhaps even cultured, Atlanta laid a savvy foundation by calling him home from Germany’s (probably?) lesser divisions. He had great support (e.g., Leandro Gonzalez Pirez and Brad Guzan), but a keystone’s a keystone.</div><br /><u><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeI8bu7iUdvwUrVuObXQVfWJPHxUzF_XslvX0KuTA9JDr13aoVuNxhzwqjY5tCByUZGJnLeduANL7wsRZhdegXQnkV28WcGMsMgzf7wtkanKMSzPUr76NwutomeMHE_ga68AIenUqjR7gEETJSiicpjpJZ9qYuPTz8mM6UVtMAZvsp1E39SXmHftDMl-ir/s1080/MicrosoftTeams-image-22.webp" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1080" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeI8bu7iUdvwUrVuObXQVfWJPHxUzF_XslvX0KuTA9JDr13aoVuNxhzwqjY5tCByUZGJnLeduANL7wsRZhdegXQnkV28WcGMsMgzf7wtkanKMSzPUr76NwutomeMHE_ga68AIenUqjR7gEETJSiicpjpJZ9qYuPTz8mM6UVtMAZvsp1E39SXmHftDMl-ir/s320/MicrosoftTeams-image-22.webp" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Almiron, a visual</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>Miguel Almiron</u> (2017-2018)</div></u><div style="text-align: justify;">String-bean wiry and whippet-quick, Almiron flayed opposing defenses in transition. He’d just break out and <i>fly</i>. He didn’t play in Atlanta for long – just 62 games played all told (59 starts) – but he managed <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/miguel-almiron/stats/" target="_blank">49 goal contributions</a> in that sliver of time. Anyone who thought he’d struggle with Newcastle United harbored a Euro-snob’s hatred for MLS.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><u><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>Josef Martinez</u> (2017-2022)</div></u><div style="text-align: justify;">However he finished the sentences started by Almiron – a period here, an exclamation point there, maybe even the odd semicolon – Martinez did it on the fucking regular. An ACL tear sabotaged a trajectory that looked set to consume the all-time record for goals scored in MLS, but Martinez scored <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/josef-martinez/stats/" target="_blank">an incredible 77 goals</a> in his first three seasons in the league. Torrid, by any other</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><u><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>Jeff Larentowicz</u> (2017-2020)</div></u><div style="text-align: justify;">Ask me to assess any team and the first place I’ll look will always, <i>always</i> be the players that run interference for defense and (sometimes) launch the counters. As far as he falls short in nearly every category – e.g., speed, quickness, quality/range of passing – the <i>sum</i> of Larentowicz’s game, his savvy and presence, left Almiron and Martinez free to visit their Reign of Terror against the rest of the league.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><u><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>Ezequiel Barco/Pity Martinez</u> (2018-2023 and 2019-2020, respectively)</div></u><div style="text-align: justify;">Atlanta has never lacked for ambition, but what seemed like a destined knack for channeling it in a smart direction abruptly dried up when they tried to replace Almiron as the attacking vehicle. They spent <i>big</i>, maybe even recklessly on Barco and Martinez. Their inability to take control of a disturbing majority of the games they played rendered whatever talent they had irrelevant.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><u><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>Thiago Almada</u> (2022-2023)</div></u><div style="text-align: justify;">And yet doing something highly similar – i.e., dropping a load of cash on a promising, but still very young Argentine – suddenly paid off all over again with Almada. So long as he stays on the field and with Atlanta for 2024, he will almost certainly best the combined production of the two players above. How’s that work? No fucking idea. You just celebrate when it does…because ever so much can go so very wrong and in so many ways.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Where They Finished in 2023 & What the Past Says About That, If Anything</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">10th overall and with a wholly respectable goal-differential. That said, the defense was always a little suspect and the attack didn’t flirt with automatic the way that Atlanta’s best teams did back in the Act I/beginning of Act II glory days. Put together, though, it looked like one of those situations where the neither the defense nor the attack could stop or unsettle, respectively, their counterparts on the Eastern Conference’s better teams. And the East was the cream of the league in 2023.</div><br /><b><u><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiGlulFe3qfKWhoG04v3rpXo8c6ZZKqT58Hh8SgVRPmY3Z-S8wR0mtJ2JcZkZPUIdGwi_J6x9OyQftJr3sJFZ9CcTymVu5Ber8f_bOEAl8xLZ_jhcU3hAeV3gcD3rIsPSPX-4zgIOxQk8-J3E5AhxiqGQXD8htHSgwWumSmeyjH3YARWsWLp8shCUY8Ipd/s2048/7JXKSAX6JDESKTVVJRTWAFU6HQ.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1345" data-original-width="2048" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiGlulFe3qfKWhoG04v3rpXo8c6ZZKqT58Hh8SgVRPmY3Z-S8wR0mtJ2JcZkZPUIdGwi_J6x9OyQftJr3sJFZ9CcTymVu5Ber8f_bOEAl8xLZ_jhcU3hAeV3gcD3rIsPSPX-4zgIOxQk8-J3E5AhxiqGQXD8htHSgwWumSmeyjH3YARWsWLp8shCUY8Ipd/s320/7JXKSAX6JDESKTVVJRTWAFU6HQ.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>If the rules allow it...eh.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Notes/Impressions on the Current Roster/State of Ambition</u></b></div></u></b><div style="text-align: justify;">If I ranked Atlanta among the most ambitious teams in MLS, I doubt I’d get much push-back. When a team fails big and gets back up to swing again, I don’t know how else to describe it. As for the current roster, I would have felt better about dubbing it solid before Miles Robinson moved to FC Cincinnati in what counts to me as one of the bigger “what the fuck” moves of the 2023-2024 off-season. And, given their comparative weakness in that particular part of the field in 2023, that sure feels like cause for concern, particularly with “Supporters Atlanta” showing as defensive depth on <a href="https://www.atlutd.com/roster/" target="_blank">the roster effective today</a>, January 23, 2024. If with concerns about the heart of their midfield (again, see above), and in what passes for Atlanta tradition, this team looks just a couple steps behind loaded in the rest on the attacking side. Whether it’s Almada posting very real numbers, Brooks Lennon and Caleb Wiley storming forward from fullback (surprisingly strong numbers from them, Lennon, in particular), they have Xande Silva and Saba Lobjanidze running wild in front of them on the wings and Golden Boot runner-(runner-?)up Giorgios Giakoumakis as the focal point for all that useful energy. And, based on what I saw here and there over 2023, they did find something special in central midfield in Tristan Muyumba. And yet, isn’t all the above the trick: if they lingered at the fringe of competitive <i>with</i> Robinson in their XI, who’s the player who replaces him that takes the defense to the next level? However you answer that, Atlanta feels well worth watching in 2024.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>* Joy Point Index</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">Winning the CONCACAF Champions’ League: 5 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Claiming Supporters’ Shield : 4 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Winning MLS Cup: 3 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">MLS Cup Runner-Up: 2 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Winning the U.S. Open Cup: 2 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Winning CONCACAF Champions Cup: 2 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">MLS Is Back Cup: 2 points (yeah, yeah, I’m a Timbers fan; still, that was a tough one)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">CONCACAF Champions League Semifinalist: 1 point</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Making the Playoffs: 1 point</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Missing the Playoffs: -1 point</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Missing Playoffs in 1996-97, 2002-2004 (when 80% of the league qualified): - 2 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Wooden Spoon: -3 points</div>Jeff Bullhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11384922554068429807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1394291933100545145.post-88903154789518274892024-01-21T21:17:00.000-08:002024-01-22T10:50:39.837-08:00Getting Reacquainted with New York City FC, MLS's Trust Fund Kids<i><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwJFW1SbP08PFu7dN_my_ZzEfqweVeypPBvrYYwiZqSPjggNumpjDPbuK4dbD5EmktcLd5qj54NuDpJBJ8XYg7JI8pSHdQr4epDxdv_xXCnFN8H_xIlx8IaMMNwXqteZ9AFq5-kT26sq_mn23uU0LccMm-WDOVivUW7uHnVER-_nqVLv5pa4Xxtv87Y7Ps/s1200/56f41fb86a062.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwJFW1SbP08PFu7dN_my_ZzEfqweVeypPBvrYYwiZqSPjggNumpjDPbuK4dbD5EmktcLd5qj54NuDpJBJ8XYg7JI8pSHdQr4epDxdv_xXCnFN8H_xIlx8IaMMNwXqteZ9AFq5-kT26sq_mn23uU0LccMm-WDOVivUW7uHnVER-_nqVLv5pa4Xxtv87Y7Ps/s320/56f41fb86a062.webp" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The past-time of America's past-time.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>[<u>Standing Disclaimer</u>: While I have watched…just a stupid amount of MLS over the years, I don’t watch the vast majority of games, never mind all of them. As such, it’s fair to take anything below that isn’t a hard number or a physical trophy as an impression, a couple steps removed.]</i></div></i><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Thumbnail History</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">When New York City FC joined MLS in 2015, it revived the premise of planting a junior club for a major international team – (recent) EPL juggernaut Manchester City in this case – into the U.S. market. Think Chivas USA 2.0, only this time they’d take it seriously. Or something. As MLS fans know, they play their games in a baseball stadium, an embarrassing look of the sort that hasn’t graced the league since teams regularly played over football lines every fall. The Organization finally ponied up to build a soccer-specific stadium in New York City, at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City_FC_stadium" target="_blank">a place called Willets Point</a>, congrats and all that, but it looks like they’ve got two more seasons of slipping on tobacco spit before that space opens. While a good product has typically graced that janky field, NYCFC had to learn some old lessons – chief among them, that seeding an <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_New_York_City_FC_season#Squad_information" target="_blank">MLS-regular expansion team</a> with a few high-profile (if aging) ringers from Europe’s biggest teams is not enough. The team missed the playoffs that first season (and by quite a bit), but defensive reinforcements arrived for the second season and righted the ship. That brought consistency, but success wouldn’t arrive until the team found lower-profile, but better and frankly hungrier, ringers (Sit tight. I’ll flesh out the point below). That combination didn’t just make them regulars in the MLS playoffs; NYCFC finished in the top ten overall in every season from 2016 to 2022, and in the top five more often than not. That solid set-up just needed a nudge at that point, and those arrived in the persons of a head coach (Norwegian Ronny Deila) and a star forward (Valentin “Taty” Castellanos). The blue side of New York raised its first MLS Cup in 2021 (over <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MLS_Cup_2021" target="_blank">the fallen bodies</a> of the Portland Timbers, <i>dammit</i>) and the future looked very bright…until it very abruptly didn’t. More below…</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Best Season(s)</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">Easy call. 2021. And by just about every measure.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Long-Term Tendencies</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">Talking “tendencies” doesn’t make a lot of sense for a team that hasn’t yet celebrated its 10th birthday, but kicking around the secret of NYCFC’s success isn’t too complicated. They became a good defensive team in 2017 and solidified into a great one from 2018 to the present. A potent attack came together one season after that and, with the exception of a slight falling off in The Year of COVID, stuck around through 2022 (the latter, i.e., the season after they won MLS Cup, was their most lethal). As it happens, you don’t need to look at anything but the top-line numbers to answer the question, what the hell happened to New York City FC in 2023? The attack took a giant shit is what happened.</div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Identity</u></b><span style="font-weight: bold;">: </span>MLS’s trust fund babies</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: bold;"><u>Joy Points</u></b><b>: </b>7, aka, pretty damn happy for such a young team.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>A Half Dozen Names to Know</u></b></div></b><u><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>David Villa</u> (2015-2018)</div></u><div style="text-align: justify;">Partial as I am to Andrea Pirlo (who somehow played both well and like he’d rather be anywhere else; love that dude), Villa was indisputably the best of NYCFC’s Year One signings. He scored immediately and often, even in the expansion season, and only stopped doing so when he left. <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/david-villa/stats/" target="_blank">77 goals</a> in just four seasons. Nuts.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><u><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>Maxime Chanot/Alexander Callens</u></div></u><div style="text-align: justify;">I almost put these two first because they tell the tale of how NYCFC got steady so fast. Chanot arrived the season before Callens (2016 v 2017), but both stayed through 2022 (Chanot left after 2023) and played over 160 games. Not coincidentally, they had Sean Johnson in goal behind them for virtually every one of those games. Against the popular cliche, defense does not not win titles, so much as make the possible.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><u><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>Maximiliano Moralez</u> (2017-2023)</div></u><div style="text-align: justify;">The Argentine midfield wizard that made actually <i>winning</i> that title a reality. Moralez may be the shortest player on 90% of the fields he steps onto, but he could find the game and the right pass like few attacking mids in MLS history. His best season (2021) saw him join the pantheon of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_League_Soccer_records_and_statistics#Most_assists" target="_blank">all-time (single-season) assist leaders</a> (and who knew Sacha Kljestan supped at the same club?), so it feels good and right that he played a key role in NYCFC’s Cup-winning season.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><u><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>Alexander Ring</u> (2017-2020)</div></u><div style="text-align: justify;">He’ll pop up in a future chapter, but I’m using Ring as a stand-in for all the quality, often young, American players that NYCFC finds and fields when its front-office has its shit together. Keaton Parks would do just as well, really. A cruel twist of fate saw Ring move on before their Cup-winning season, but he gave the team a league-elite (in my mind), two-way presence in midfield.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><u><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMaO0YxNj9D8l21eA8bhokLuTS_kNCoDe1MRgCvtVt4liQDkcN9EQkjUK15YJ641WZbA90vu8kF22q4H1pt9rnsc4R7grOnwSEE7pTPNWtH5SuZOJ_QO8pkM_3iQR7iL_CUOicHLncorvZFWeCjw4aXqeBHN2pEbngK2JtnAsxdM8A83gBTruWeRans-Ia/s1125/pexels-photo-1102908.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1125" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMaO0YxNj9D8l21eA8bhokLuTS_kNCoDe1MRgCvtVt4liQDkcN9EQkjUK15YJ641WZbA90vu8kF22q4H1pt9rnsc4R7grOnwSEE7pTPNWtH5SuZOJ_QO8pkM_3iQR7iL_CUOicHLncorvZFWeCjw4aXqeBHN2pEbngK2JtnAsxdM8A83gBTruWeRans-Ia/w400-h266/pexels-photo-1102908.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Sunset or a demon priming to eat your soul?</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>Valentin “Taty” Castellanos</u> (2018-2022)</div></u><div style="text-align: justify;">Already introduced as the “star forward” that nudged NYCFC to its ultimate success, Castellano really was one hell of player. Slippery, athletic, smart, he provided a fantastic foil for Moralez . It hardly feels like a coincidence that <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/valentin-castellanos/stats/" target="_blank">his best season in MLS</a> was NYCFC’s best as well.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><u><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>Talles Magno</u> (2021- )</div></u><div style="text-align: justify;">Unfair as it seems to pile the woes of a team on the shoulders of a 21-year-old who the coaching staff hasn’t figured out – a phrase I mean globally – Magno feels like a good stand-in for the haze that has clouded NYCFC’s near-term future. Again, Santiago Rodriguez works here just as well…</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Where They Finished in 2023 & What the Past Says About That, If Anything</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">NYCFC ended its worst-ever season 22nd overall and with the third-worst attack in the league…and yet they something remained in the playoff chase to the end (<i>hang your head, MLS! shame!!</i>). A collective failure to step up characterized their 2023; some might point to the failure among the coaching staff to put players into positions where they could succeed, but, however you organize the numbers, the math ends up in the same dismal place. And that has to be a blow to an MLS sub-franchise that has mainly known steady improvement.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline;"><br /></span></div><u style="font-weight: bold;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><u>Notes/Impressions on the Current Roster/State of Ambition</u></div></u><div style="text-align: justify;">As someone who looks to MLS’s Armchair Analyst, Matt Doyle, to fill in the gaps in what I can’t watch, I’ve read more than one fairly cogent argument that current head coach, Nick Cushing, doesn’t have the chops for the job. And, on the reasonable argument that young players benefit most from smart coaching that sure feels like a good place to start a rebuild…but a quick search tells me Cushing will remain at the helm for at least the beginning of 2024. Fortunately for him, NYCFC still has a good defense to build on, if one that looks damned thinned on the day this went up (January 21, 2024). Also, their academy has delivered some useful, young two-way midfielders too – e.g., James Sands and, a little behind him (on all levels) Justin Haak – but that attack needs a David Villa’s worth of help. Maybe that comes from getting more out of last season’s honorable mentions – e.g., Rodriguez’s six goals and eight assists, or feel free to stretch for Richie Ledezma’s five assists – but I’m inclined to think they’d be better off finding a “right now” signing to help those younger players along. This team should have the connections and resources to pull it off – I mean, what’s the point of the connection to Manchester City otherwise – but they seem more invested in throwing young players into the deep end than the results they deliver at this point. Still, I expect this team to turn it around soon. If not this season, then the next one – and certainly by the time they christen that new stadium.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>* Joy Point Index</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">Winning the CONCACAF Champions’ League: 5 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Claiming Supporters’ Shield : 4 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Winning MLS Cup: 3 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">MLS Cup Runner-Up: 2 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Winning the U.S. Open Cup: 2 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Winning CONCACAF Champions Cup: 2 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">MLS Is Back Cup: 2 points (yeah, yeah, I’m a Timbers fan; still, that was a tough one)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">CONCACAF Champions League Semifinalist: 1 point</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Making the Playoffs: 1 point</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Missing the Playoffs: -1 point</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Missing Playoffs in 1996-97, 2002-2004 (when 80% of the league qualified): - 2 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Wooden Spoon: -3 points</div>Jeff Bullhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11384922554068429807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1394291933100545145.post-54979297525659257472024-01-19T22:27:00.000-08:002024-01-22T10:50:29.393-08:00Getting Reacquainted with the Philadelphia Union, aka, the Closest MLS Gets to a Technocracy<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs8FD-pQXtgFJNOVBVKJ4GXTCClccboluDfn9Q30zcRIWtBRfV8LjJiIBtqP6EQbDBHM7D-I01BBqsRAsgJhX4qZKUZGIxD1POpSkvANYpvlbvRmQCi9LOqeL7D3pyFqwQ6c2HlWOAMjxiHE_tVMdUeuU-fNdWtMSSn4cgihKlVspVKu-pKRFgn6LzXZTY/s1024/c5b995da1bab84eb144bf.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="614" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs8FD-pQXtgFJNOVBVKJ4GXTCClccboluDfn9Q30zcRIWtBRfV8LjJiIBtqP6EQbDBHM7D-I01BBqsRAsgJhX4qZKUZGIxD1POpSkvANYpvlbvRmQCi9LOqeL7D3pyFqwQ6c2HlWOAMjxiHE_tVMdUeuU-fNdWtMSSn4cgihKlVspVKu-pKRFgn6LzXZTY/w400-h240/c5b995da1bab84eb144bf.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The RAND Corporation: Planning Your Future.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>[<u>Standing Disclaimer</u>: While I have watched…just a stupid amount of MLS over the years, I don’t watch the vast majority of games, never mind all of them. As such, it’s fair to take anything below that isn’t a hard number or a physical trophy as an impression, a couple steps removed.]</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Thumbnail History</u></b></div></b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the grand timeline of MLS expansion, the Philadelphia Union arrived fairly early – a couple seasons after Toronto FC, one after the Seattle Sounders, but one before my Portland Timbers – or just 2010. You can pull a couple threads out of that thought, but the one I associate with Philly more than any MLS team doubles as the big feather in their cap: they used that time to figure things, and well. Not perfectly, but still pretty fucking well. Something else about the Union: once you get
used to thinking about a team a certain way, that impression becomes sticky. In
this case, that meant forgetting they missed the playoffs in six of their first eight seasons. On the one hand, they made the post-season in Year 2 (yay!); on the other, they missed it over the next four seasons. Like any expansion team, most of that first roster came from the scraps they pulled out of the Expansion Draft. When the limits of that approach became apparent, Philly put real effort into signing game-changing players – e.g., Conor Casey and Maurice Edu, or even bigger swings like Cristian Maidana – but those players came and went before their dry spell in the playoffs ended. And then 2018 arrived and the Union hasn’t missed the playoffs since; better, they won the Supporters’ Shield…in the weird season (i.e., 2020) and strolled to MLS Cup 2022, where they contested one of the consensus best-ever finals in league history against Los Angeles FC. Being able to skim a healthy amount of cream from their academy system clearly had something to do with that – players like Derrick Jones, Auston Trusty, Brendan Aaronson, Jack McGlynn and Nathan Harriel don’t grow on trees – but, personally, I consider how much better they got at signing impact foreign signings the bigger story.</span></div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Best Season(s)</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">While I bet winning the Shield felt as good to Philly fans as winning the (one and only…please) MLS Is Back Trophy did for Timbers fans, I have to think reaching MLS Cup feels like their high-water mark*, despite the pain. Again, MLS Cup 2022 was a fucking party…so, why don’t I go with the obvious thing? (Because I’m me.)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">(* Also, this call looks past their solid CONCACAF Champions League runs of recent seasons.)</div><span><a name='more'></a></span><br /><b><u><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtnCVAxrJb0BcjuQPlSRVC1ImLDfu9XYaiGjP1u0-o-Jl3AL2sRirMoN7sTAmR6TrGo0wb1DGzV56qbe3xw1NpX7uEm5x8IAKLg186Ct_Lk10YwEas_L-OBtwEkE0DhZE8A270ItwIqkK2fQXWVG4z6BOKW0bdza24LCQUKOEL9jkndkxt5j1ynDAZYHkN/s233/download.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="233" data-original-width="217" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtnCVAxrJb0BcjuQPlSRVC1ImLDfu9XYaiGjP1u0-o-Jl3AL2sRirMoN7sTAmR6TrGo0wb1DGzV56qbe3xw1NpX7uEm5x8IAKLg186Ct_Lk10YwEas_L-OBtwEkE0DhZE8A270ItwIqkK2fQXWVG4z6BOKW0bdza24LCQUKOEL9jkndkxt5j1ynDAZYHkN/s1600/download.jpg" width="217" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Obscenely plump.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Long-Term Tendencies</u></b></div></u></b><div style="text-align: justify;">Philly have historically had respectable defenses and muddled attacks, but I’d call their recent, nearly unbroken succession of just…<i>exquisitely</i> balanced teams the trend worth watching. Even in the one season where their attack broke down – i.e., 2021, when they only matched the league average for goals scored (but backed it with a rock-star defense) – the Union have fielded excellent teams, balanced on both sides of the ball; hell, the 2022 team had the balance of the best pinot in Oregon. Those are the Union’s tendencies until something rattles ‘em off the foundation.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: bold;"><u>Identity</u></b><b>: </b>Kind of like a think-tank in a functioning society. Before the brain-worms start digging.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: bold;"><u>Joy Points</u></b>: 8 (* see note below; and, hello, single digits! And, again, this is the 12th team overall.)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="font-weight: bold;">10 Names to Know</u> [Ed. - Why did I never add the seasons played by each before now?]</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Sebastian Le Toux</u> (2010-2011, 2013=2016)<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I’d go so far as to call him the Union’s first indispensable player – even with the excursions to New York and Vancouver thrown in. Le Toux scored and assisted <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/sebastien-le-toux/stats/" target="_blank">with equal aplomb</a> and generally did plenty of both in the hopes of lifting a struggling team to the surface. Kind of heroic, really.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Brian Carroll</u> (2011-2017)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Not to shit on Carroll – a player I respect immensely, and who played the position I most respect (and relate to) – but he does offer a ready-made symbol for Philly’s early, and arguably corner-cutting ambitions. If you sort <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All-time_Philadelphia_Union_roster" target="_blank">the all-time roster</a> by season (so very highly fucking recommended), you’ll see an almost uninterrupted list of MLS cast-offs – i.e., a real cattle-call of players who did well enough on other teams, if a couple seasons prior, to convince any team that they might shine on the right roster. A low-risk, low-reward model, basically, and one that worked as well as what that implied.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Maurice Edu</u> (2014-2017)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">One of those eternally-promising Americans blessed with a high-enough profile to pass as a <i>major signing</i> – i.e., what going abroad for a few seasons could do for a player’s reputation. Insofar as Philly’s concerned, Edu was injured more often than he fell short, but the brute reality of missing games through injury generally pencils out as a bust when it comes to signings. Still, signing him showed ambition, no matter how misplaced.</div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-decoration-line: underline;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHbZ5UTIieSVeSr5mDIff5l_GZnTqnIqVRf43Hf3PXv1lGqEM7iCdU-wKVyZBDNDgrfmN-DXF0307ZWAMRk-UGliOacrBomrEqZTT90e8MXjIXQfMNAj0tVnsxfrhf72DWYTMk_ama80nagZDKKfmnwRXluWXlLY_rY3WUMS7XxSLokFBVBwXh0LyzkwWU/s350/hims-real-talk-ed-small-4.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="196" data-original-width="350" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHbZ5UTIieSVeSr5mDIff5l_GZnTqnIqVRf43Hf3PXv1lGqEM7iCdU-wKVyZBDNDgrfmN-DXF0307ZWAMRk-UGliOacrBomrEqZTT90e8MXjIXQfMNAj0tVnsxfrhf72DWYTMk_ama80nagZDKKfmnwRXluWXlLY_rY3WUMS7XxSLokFBVBwXh0LyzkwWU/s320/hims-real-talk-ed-small-4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Not this guy. Different one, same commercial.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Andre Blake</u> (2014- )</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Just a good goalkeeper, full stop, the kind of player who keeps things regular and reliable in one of the key positions and frees up budget and thought-process for problem-solving. It’s like what that 61-year-old man says in the Hims commercial. Still, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_League_Soccer_records_and_statistics#Most_clean_sheets" target="_blank">his 2022 numbers</a> chased a record and that went a long way to helping the Union chase a trophy.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Alejandro Bedoya</u> (2016-?)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">One of those players that becomes so important to a team’s culture that a fan-base struggles to accept with the reality he’ll be gone one day – and gods know I have one of those too (Diego Chara). Bedoya’s contribution exist outside whatever he produces for statistics; he strikes me as the kind of player that sets the level that the players around him aspire to match.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Ilsinho</u> (2016-2021)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I’m literally dumb-founded by this player’s <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/ilsinho/stats/" target="_blank">top-line attacking numbers</a> (e.g., goals, assists), because I recall him as being something close to automatic every time he stepped onto the field. Then again, his limited minutes bring that memory closer to reality – more to the point, he did the main thing the Union needed him to do, i.e., change the game. Step 1...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Brendan Aaronson</u> (2020-2021)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Did he post eye-popping numbers in his two seasons with Philly? <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/brenden-aaronson/stats/" target="_blank">No</a>. And has he struggled since going abroad? Yep. I’m not saying that doesn’t matter, so much as I’m saying that doesn’t matter <i>yet</i>. More than that, I see Aaronson as one of those players who can add actual value when he drifts all over the field to find the attacking game. He has plenty to learn, of course (e.g., dealing with physicality (steroids?)), but America needs to develop this player profile.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Daniel Gazdag</u> (2021- )</div><div style="text-align: justify;">A prime example of the improved foreign signings mentioned well above. Gazdag <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/daniel-gazdag/stats/" target="_blank">has produced numbers</a> that any team would throw money at for two straight seasons. He’s slippery, he combines, finishes well, he stays <i>healthy (this is very important!)</i>; just one of those signings, you know. It’ll take a couple more seasons to make him a great, but you can’t get those if you don’t get the first two.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Jakob Glesnes</u> (2020- )</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Norwegian center-back arrived just a couple (full) seasons ago, and he’s already eighth on all-time minutes for the Union. Glesnes comes with all the basics – good size, decent speed, etc. – but that dude has damned cultured feet on top of that. Fun fact: I’ve seen him have games so catastrophic that they surely haunt him. So has Andre Blake. It’s a funny old game…</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><u style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Jose Martinez</u> (2020- )</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I’m a sucker…no, I’m a straight-up whore for this kind of player. Insofar as I have a soccer spirit animal, it’s a ball-playing (effectively) No. 6. I type that as a former, deeply amateur, yet enthusiastic No. 8. I count having a massive, two-way presence at that position as one of the game’s greatest force-multipliers. And Martinez has delivered that.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Where They Finished in 2023 & What the Past Says About That, If Anything</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">Fifth overall, and with a respectable goal-differential, but also 4th in the East and 14 points off the pace to the team that would knock them out of the playoffs, FC Cincinnati - who did so, it bears noting, with a low-key mentee-slaying-mentor vibe. Philly went reasonably deep in the playoffs (conference semis), but never really looked up to contending in 2023 – which, for the record, I’d argue was a weird season in any case. To sign on to the general consensus, the CCL campaign seemed to take the legs out of them and, for what it’s worth, I see that as a harder situation to pull out of than your garden-variety mid-season slump. So...yay, failure? (Or is the Union in next season’s CCL? And does that still exist? What’s normal anymore?)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Notes/Impressions on the Current Roster/State of Ambition</u></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">Inasmuch as they have some things to sort out – the complicated question of what to do about Bedoya among them – but everything I see tells me they’re returning <a href="https://www.philadelphiaunion.com/roster/" target="_blank">a pretty damn solid core</a> - e.g., Blake in goal, Glesnes and (mostly) Jack Elliott holding down central defense, Martinez buzzing all over, and Gazdag and Julian Carranza leading the line. That pretty damn solid core will play fewer games, which is on top of flying far fewer miles, and it seems fair to expect that to carry them to two to three to four (or so) more successful results. I can’t predict a frictionless season for Philly – regression strikes where it will and pleases – and they could stand to land a midfield wizard (which assumes that’s an option), but they’re almost certainly playoff competitive without one.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">* Joy Point Index</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Winning the CONCACAF Champions’ League: 5 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Claiming Supporters’ Shield : 4 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Winning MLS Cup: 3 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">MLS Cup Runner-Up: 2 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Winning the U.S. Open Cup: 2 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Winning CONCACAF Champions Cup: 2 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">MLS Is Back Cup: 2 points (yeah, yeah, I’m a Timbers fan; still, that was a tough one)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">CONCACAF Champions League Semifinalist: 1 point</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Making the Playoffs: 1 point</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Missing the Playoffs: -1 point</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Missing Playoffs in 1996-97, 2002-2004 (when 80% of the league qualified): - 2 points</div>Wooden Spoon: -3 pointsJeff Bullhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11384922554068429807noreply@blogger.com2